Fiesta Fan Forums - Ugh! >_> Annoying guilds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hraesvelg (Post 234906)

I think both absolute views on authority are rather naive. A careful balance must be struck. Like I said, its a sometimes needed evil. Authority for the sake of authority is oppression. It must be forever watched and pushed back by those who value freedom. Personally, I'm a bit of an anarcho-libertarian. I'll always side with less authority and interference, even though on a pragmatic basis I see the need for some sort of social contract.

If you're getting robbed at gunpoint, the cops are going to be absolutely useless. If people invade your home, cops are going to be absolutely useless. Protect yourself and your family. You cannot rely on others in this life. And frankly, if someone calls me an asshole, yeah, I'll either suck it up or return the favor. That one was weak, but like you said, you were groggy, LOL

I think that you miss undertand me. I agree authority without checks and balances becomes a dictatorship which is in turn can become oppression.

But the statement used was an absolute.
Authority = bad to paraphrase

Which means all authority is bad.

Take for instance my kids. If I do not use authority over them to show them what is right and safe but allow them to do what ever they want just to try and not be oppressive, than I should allow them to play on a busy highway because they want to do it. I use my authority over them to make sure they don't do this because it is dangerous.

And to use your example the police will not be able to help at the exact point that a break-in occurs, but knowing that the authority of the police deters crime. Just think about if there were no laws, no courts, no police, and no consequences what would society be like.

Authority is not bad, but the abuse of ones authority is.