Arguing politics gets neither of us anywhere, convinces no one, and is indeed a dialogue that can only become more ridiculous with repetition (not to mention more tedious). And it is not good for the Zone. I’ll be happy to discuss anything else with you, but not economics or politics. It only leads to hostility, harsh words and mutual embarrassment.

Having said that, I hope you’ll concede to me the last word. This conflict we’ve been waging for years has nothing to do with philosophy, or ideology, or principle. It’s about interest. And by “interest”, I do not refer to intellectual curiosity, or the financial return on an investment or loan; I am speaking of self-interest, “something that gives you what is ​important or ​necessary or ​helps you in some way” (Cambridge Online Dictionary).

I have determined objectively what is in my personal interest, and I have made the subjective judgement of what is in the interest of society in general. In my opinion, (and perhaps not surprisingly!) they coincide. I simply do not want to live in the kind of world which you seem to favor. I don’t want anyone I care for to live in that kind of world, either. In fact, I believe it is only through a combination of natural talent, hard work and sheer luck that I have been able to avoid doing so.

I don’t think you’re going to convince me otherwise by citing the founding fathers or quoting inspirational passages from Robert Heinlein.

I don’t mean it as a knock against the country or democracy, but if I had to describe American politics as it exists now, I’d definitely use the word “failure” in there somewhere. And it’s NOT a “thanks, Obama!” moment, either. This goes way, way beyond the current administration.

Maybe government just isn’t our game.

It’s worth remembering that the Declaration of Independence was not aimed at a foreign country, but at the government ruling the colonies. Our own government was originally founded on the principle that governments naturally tend toward tyranny, and must be sharply confined. The Declaration declares that the function of a government is protect human liberty, both from other citizens, and most importantly, from the government itself.

The Bill of Rights is not a list of business regulations.

Some of the worst abuses of humanity around the world have been, and are, committed by official governments with insufficient restraints on their actions. These abuses are usually on their own citizens, and often by people in official government uniforms. If you look at the numbers and the atrocities around the world, this is not even remotely debatable.

You keep repeating that the only reason anybody could want smaller, less powerful government is to be allowed to commit crimes and have lower taxes. This doesn’t get any less ridiculous with repetition.

1) Foreign enemies
2) Domestic Criminals
3) Crooked businessmen.

There is nothing wrong with “smaller government”. But the problem with people always yelling about smaller government is that what they really mean is “Let us businessmen do whatever the hell we want; and while you’re at it, cut our taxes”.

But business…who pares them down? The so-called free market? Not hardly, a crooked business is profitable, and the market always favors profit over justice.

Sometimes people don’t want answers to be simple. But there it is.

My thought is government needs to be pared down just as much as any big business. It is all relative.

Sometimes people don’t want answers to be simple.

It answers questions that many don’t want to be true.

I feel like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, at the end of the movie. I have the answers. I just need to look within myself.

No wonder I fly alone….mostly.

Political tags — such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth — are never basic criteria.

The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.

The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort.

- Robert A. Heinlein

Find out what somebody thinks should be done about a specific issue. Some people will say that the answer is to give more power (and wealth) to a central political authority. You will usually find that this is their answer on almost every issue that confronts our society.

Others will say that too much centralized political power in a society is dangerous, and in fact often causes the problems we're having.

Now you pretty much know which side they're on.

Anybody trying to make it more complicated is usually trying to kick dirt over something.