re: Silicon Valley Libertarians turning to Neoreactionary beliefs.

Lots of disdain for money funneled to politicians in this thread, but money-corruption in politics runs both ways. The rich corrupt politics by giving money to politicians, the poor do the same by voting in politicos who give them money/benefits.

If you don't think corporations should be able to donate money to politics, then they shouldn't be taxed either. Taxation without representation was a pretty big deal in this country at one point. Since corporations can't vote, how else can they affect their tax dollars?

So, campaign finance reform aside....

I'm intrigued by the phenomenon of neo reactionaries right now.

The Purpose of Reactionaries

I find it interesting that apparently most neoreactionaries are former libertarians, and yet this article promotes the marginalization of people for making individual choices (like having sexual reassignment surgery). It's as if they've put their idea of utility above all else, including liberty. It's odd because my first reaction is to cry "tyranny of the majority" á la John Stewart Mill; however, I suppose in their societies, rule won't be by the majority, but rather by the select few. Just so many oddities.

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Have you even read The Communist Manifesto or The Republic in full? I'm not trying to be a pedantic dick, but it's absurd how people will trash them without ever reading them.

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Yes, I have read both. I also have real world experience, which is far more valuable.

Then why fricking ask?

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Historically, no taxation without representation has only been applicable to individuals. Your point hinges on the (contestable) assumption that a corporation is the legal equivalent of a person.

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And for tax purposes, many corporations and people are interchangeable. LLCs and S-corps are pass-through entities, so there's not a distinguishable difference between the person and the corporation for tax purposes.

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Then why fricking ask?

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To fap furiously to his own intelligence. He got smug everywhere.

Some Greek chick with a philosophy degree from Wesleyan chewed up the republic and fed it to me like I was a baby bird.

Ever heard of a rhetorical question (Hint: I don't care what your answer is)? This country is plagued by anti-intellectualism. To quote Asimov,

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Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'

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I'm constantly reminded of this truth any time an evolution or political thread is started here. It's near impossible to have an affable discussion about different ideologies, because simply implying that Marx might had some good ideas results in responses like "of course you do, you're a fricking idiot" by a guy with a Teddy Bear avatar.