POL: Extropianism and Politics

Terry Donaghe (tdonaghe@yahoo.com)
Wed, 17 Mar 1999 05:31:09 -0800 (PST)

I agree that Forbes' economic policies APPEAR to be more capitalism friendly than any of the other government-subsidized candidates (Reps and Dems), but he still advocates taxation! Why vote for a socialist?

Let's look at how the two major parties stack up to the Extropian Principles:

  1. Perpetual Progress: "Seeking more intelligence, wisdom, and effectiveness, an indefinite lifespan, and the removal of political, cultural, biological, and psychological limits to self-actualization and self-realization."

Hee hee hee! Can you imagine either of the subsidized parties going along with ANY of this? Can you imagine any politician actually removing ANY barrier?

2. Self-Transformation — "Affirming continual moral, intellectual, and physical self-improvement, through critical and creative thinking, personal responsibility, and experimentation."

Liberals may come closer to this than conservatives, but I don't think you could accuse either camp of "critical" thinking.

3. Practical Optimism — "Fueling action with positive expectations. Adopting a rational, action-based optimism, in place of both blind faith and stagnant pessimism."

Well, conservatives = blind faith. And again, can we even use the word rational in conjunction with a discussion about politics?

4. Intelligent Technology — "Applying science and technology creatively to transcend 'natural' limits imposed by our biological heritage, culture, and environment. Seeing technology not as an end in itself but as an effective means towards the improvement of life."

Nope. Can't see any conservative or liberal embracing this principle. Transcending 'natural' limits would make a conservative (think Falwell) wet his pants. And Liberals couldn't get past the cultural and environmental limits.

5. Open Society — "Supporting social orders that foster freedom of speech, freedom of action, and experimentation. Opposing authoritarian social control and favoring the rule of law and decentralization of power. Preferring bargaining over battling, and exchange over compulsion. Openness to improvement rather than a static utopia."

The second sentence says it all. Neither of the subsidized political parties would ever go along with either opposing authoritarian social controls or the decentralization of power. Both Liberals and Conservatives are interested in a very CLOSED society that adheres to their notions of what is "normal."

6. Self-Direction — "Seeking independent thinking, individual freedom, personal responsibility, self-direction, self-esteem, and respect for others."

*ROTFLMAO*

7. Rational Thinking — "Favoring reason over blind faith and questioning over dogma. Remaining open to challenges to our beliefs and practices in pursuit of perpetual improvement. Welcoming criticism of our existing beliefs while being open to new ideas."

Whoops! Let's not even go there. :)

Conclusion:

Politics and Extropianism do not mix. The day we find a candidate who will adhere to the Extropian Principles is the day that we should crown him/her Absolute Monarch for life! :)

Opinion:

Democracy is simply a mechanism allowing the few (ethnic, social, corporate, cultural, philosophical minorities) to rule the many. In order to be elected any given candidate must pander to the wishes of as many of these minority groups as possible.

Any vote cast in any election is simply your way of submitting to the absolute power of the State. There was a website (I forget which one) during the elections in November that I saw - it had a cartoon of a hideous monster with a caption that read "Thank you for your vote Slave!"

As for my pick? Why vote for the lesser of two evils? Check out:

http://www.cthulhu.org/
(Check out his platform!)

*mwuhahahahaha!!*

==
Terry Donaghe: terry@donaghe.com - mail me links to stupid political sites!

My Homepage: <http://www.donaghe.com/terry.htm> - Updated 3/9/99

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