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A fundamental flaw in most Americans’ thinking is that they confuse Society with the State. They think of the two as virtually synonymous. But they’re not. ::::::The State, properly defined, refers to centralized rule by politicians and their appointed surrogates. (Note: Downsize DC uses the term “Big Government” because most folks can readily understand that and we’ll use that term throughout this lesson.) But Society is so much more. ::::::This confusion about the difference between government and society is not a new problem. Thomas Paine recognized it in 1776, in Common Sense:::::::
“Some writers have so confounded government with society, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one…”
::::::How does this problem manifest itself in our time?:::
“Unschool Your Child” and give them an edge over Government Schooled children
DC Downsizer Philosophy: Compassion is a great thing, and Big Government knows nothing about it
Day-by-day, bit-by-bit, our wants and desires are met. Behold, the Department of Bread brings forth . . .:::
I believe space exploration and colonization is vital to human progress. But do we really need NASA to accomplish it?
The Downsize DC Foundation exists to show the difference between the innovation fostered in the voluntary sector, and the stagnation and harm done by the coercive government sector. We seek to bring a little balance to a world in which news reporting reduces everything to a question of politics and government, when in reality most human progress is created by neither. Most human progress comes from individuals and voluntary institutions. But are the advances we highlight here really the result of the voluntary sector only?:::
More-with-less innovation: Higher productivity with less management
Quality of Life: Individualized drugs and gender-specific pain treatment
An interesting debate between Carl Pope and Bjorn Lomborg . . .
Scientists have had a partial success treating damaged spinal cords with stem-cells, causing paralyzed mice to regain some limb movement. Details here. Future breakthroughs in this area could save as much as $4 billion in health care costs, while restoring life and hope to millions.