Fighting Ebola with Freedom

[CountDeMoney]

I also think Rousseau is misunderstood/gets a bad rap based on subsequent misuse but that is an argument for another time and place.

Thank you.

[Razgovory]

I think Berkut self-identifies as libertarian because he doesn't feel comfortable in the two party system.  His freedoms are typical American ones tempered by Republican virtues and rule of law.  There are many freedoms that exist outside of this.  For instance, the freedom to bribe people is not a protected right.  A contractor can't bribe individuals in another company so they will hire him over his competitors.  At least not legally.  I've never seen anything that indicates Berkut believes this should be legal, but it is a freedom and presumably falls under label of "Two consenting adults", and presumably legal in a society that values freedom over everything else.

It definitely doesn't fall under the category of two consenting adults.  The recipient of the bribe has been charged with a public trust.  The contract is not his to dispose of as he wishes.

A public trust?  We aren't talking about government officials here.  We are talking about private citizens in private business.

[Admiral Yi]

How do you bribe someone in private business?

[Razgovory]

How do you bribe someone in private business?

Typically by paying them money.  Say two business are competing to get a cleaning contract from a third business.  One cleaning companies bribes individuals in the third business to make sure they get the contract.  That seems unfair.  How would you prevent such activity if you don't involve the state.

[DGuller]

How do you bribe someone in private business?

I'm not telling you. 

[Admiral Yi]

Typically by paying them money.  Say two business are competing to get a cleaning contract from a third business.  One cleaning companies bribes individuals in the third business to make sure they get the contract.  That seems unfair.  How would you prevent such activity if you don't involve the state.

Either "the individuals in the third business" own the business, in which case your bribe is just a reduced price, or they don't, in which case the bribee is betraying the trust of his superiors.

[Razgovory]

Typically by paying them money.  Say two business are competing to get a cleaning contract from a third business.  One cleaning companies bribes individuals in the third business to make sure they get the contract.  That seems unfair.  How would you prevent such activity if you don't involve the state.

Either "the individuals in the third business" own the business, in which case your bribe is just a reduced price, or they don't, in which case the bribee is betraying the trust of his superiors.

If they betray the trust his superiors so what?  They get fired.  They're just got a hefty bribe.  They're loaded.  Maybe they'll even be hired by the cleaning company, after all they know how contracts get made.

[DGuller]

Typically by paying them money.  Say two business are competing to get a cleaning contract from a third business.  One cleaning companies bribes individuals in the third business to make sure they get the contract.  That seems unfair.  How would you prevent such activity if you don't involve the state.

Either "the individuals in the third business" own the business, in which case your bribe is just a reduced price, or they don't, in which case the bribee is betraying the trust of his superiors.

  Thanks for clearing it up.

[Razgovory]

Well I was wrong.  Some people seem to think bribery is a fundamental right.  So long as it's not government, anything goes.

[Admiral Yi]

  Thanks for clearing it up.

I don't see how your smart mouth is warranted.  Raz started this exchange by describing bribery as two consenting adults.

[DGuller]

I don't see how your smart mouth is warranted.

Is that supposed to stop me?

Raz started this exchange by describing bribery as two consenting adults.

Was your description meant to counter Raz's claim that it's a transaction between two consenting adults?

[Admiral Yi]

It's either a transaction between two consenting adults, in which case it's not bribery, or it's among 3 adults, one of whom is not consenting.

[Ed Anger]

Smack DG in his Russian mouth Yi. Russians only respect force.

[DGuller]

It's either a transaction between two consenting adults, in which case it's not bribery, or it's among 3 adults, one of whom is not consenting.

That is a good point.

[DGuller]

Smack DG in his Russian mouth Yi. Russians only respect force.