You are right. I am (partly) wrong. I still disagree with all forms of
socialism and Suresh Naidu. Even his anarcho-socialism. But, you are right,
too. I have taken too much of a view that a lot of people are (in your words
describing your idea of John's position) ". . . are fully aware of the
choices that they make and have the critical faculties and/or ability to
empower themselves and do that which is in their best interests."
I like to be an optimist. But, you have a very good point. A lot of people
_are_ "fooled" I'm sorry, that was a bad choice of words. I should
say, "memed" into believing they must be told what to do, must obey or get
punished. They are memed into something like (what Dr. Martin Seligman says
is) "Learned Helplessness" by either religions or governments. It's amazing
to me that so many people don't know how free they are or how free they could
be.
This reminds me of Harry Browne's book _How I Found Freedom in an Unfree
World_. That book should be read by everyone on earth. If they disagree
with the main (freedom) idea of that book, they are "free" to get what they
get.