- Joined
- Dec 30, 2010
- Messages
- 12,730
- Points
- 113
Two dangers
With this in mind, I see two potential dangers arising from these riots that transpired. Both involve the State and its inherent tendency for self-aggrandisement.
First, I am worried, and rightly so, that the State will further use the pretext of racial/religious/civil harmony to curb civil liberties: “Oh, too much free speech is bad because people will say nasty things about minorities and spark riots! Thus we need to restrict and censor ‘sensitive’, ‘hate’ speech!”. (See this article for my reply).
Second, I am worried also that some people, out of good intentions, will call for more ‘government help’ (which is a contradiction in terms to me), to alleviate the ‘exploitation of migrant workers’ and other disadvantaged groups. These individuals, thinking that they’re calling for more freedom, are unknowingly inviting the State to slap on their wrists the handcuffs of slavery. Economic interventionism is fuelled often by good intentions, but poor economics.
Make no mistake, I am not a defender of the PAP, nor do I take pleasure at suffering and poverty. I’m only saying that the best way to understand real exploitation, and to ensure justice and the general welfare, is to be wary of the State and its constant mischief. The main point of this article was not to discuss the merits of the foreign talent policy, it was to argue that it is erroneous to say that poor migrant workers are being exploited and consequently call for more statism.
- http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=20206
With this in mind, I see two potential dangers arising from these riots that transpired. Both involve the State and its inherent tendency for self-aggrandisement.
First, I am worried, and rightly so, that the State will further use the pretext of racial/religious/civil harmony to curb civil liberties: “Oh, too much free speech is bad because people will say nasty things about minorities and spark riots! Thus we need to restrict and censor ‘sensitive’, ‘hate’ speech!”. (See this article for my reply).
Second, I am worried also that some people, out of good intentions, will call for more ‘government help’ (which is a contradiction in terms to me), to alleviate the ‘exploitation of migrant workers’ and other disadvantaged groups. These individuals, thinking that they’re calling for more freedom, are unknowingly inviting the State to slap on their wrists the handcuffs of slavery. Economic interventionism is fuelled often by good intentions, but poor economics.
Make no mistake, I am not a defender of the PAP, nor do I take pleasure at suffering and poverty. I’m only saying that the best way to understand real exploitation, and to ensure justice and the general welfare, is to be wary of the State and its constant mischief. The main point of this article was not to discuss the merits of the foreign talent policy, it was to argue that it is erroneous to say that poor migrant workers are being exploited and consequently call for more statism.
- http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=20206
Is this a sick joke ?
