Uni Stuff > General University Discussion and Queries
Student Unionism: Should it be Compulsory or Voluntary?
brendan:
--- Quote from: "enwiabe" ---We belong to the nation state of Australia. The reason why we enjoy probably the best quality of life the world over is that we contribute to each other's success. We all pay taxes, we all submit ourselves to the democracy that we enjoy today. If you don't like it, I encourage you to go and live in a country with no taxation policy - see how that works out for you.
--- End quote ---
No where do I ever advocate that there ought to be "no taxation". That is a complete straw-man argument: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man
"A straw man argument is an informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position. To "set up a straw man" or "set up a straw man argument" is to create a position that is easy to refute, then attribute that position to the opponent. Often, the straw man is set up to deliberately overstate the opponent's position a successful rhetorical technique (that is, it may succeed in persuading people) but it is in fact a misleading fallacy, because the opponent's actual argument has not been refuted."
--- Quote from: "enwiabe" --- I want to give back to the country that has given me so much, and so should you.
--- End quote ---
That's great for you, and I don't disagree with you on that. However, taxes by their very definition are coercive. Yet you seem to not want to acknowledge this. There are cases in which taxes are definitely justified.
--- Quote from: "enwiabe" ---This notion of it being a 'coercive' measure that they're taking YOUR money and it's YOURS
--- End quote ---
That is the inconvenient truth. You don't have to like the truth, you can probably ignore the truth, but it nevertheless is the truth. Do you think the ATO comes round every year and says to people "Oh hey Johnny, how you going? good? would you like to voluntarily donate some of your money to us? if would be really cool, however you don't have to, its your choice".
Your body, your mind, and the fruits of your labour, are yours. No one else owns you. I can think of nothing more absurdly selfish than coercing someone else to pay for your own services that which only you benefit.
Collin Li:
--- Quote from: "enwiabe" ---Rephrase please? I'm not sure I understand your question. What do you mean by "things"?
--- End quote ---
I think brendan's "strawman" fallacy points it out better: I was simply asking: how does student unionism fit in as a priority compared to public goods such as roads and education?
Student unionism is an unnecessary luxury that should be paid for if you want the service.
brendan:
http://www.cis.org.au/issue_analysis/IA62/IA62.PDF
Galelleo:
--- Quote from: "brendan" ---To give federal government funds to student unions is effectively to give special privileges to some by visiting burdens on many.
--- End quote ---
Does that include health care? and public schools?
are we not giving them privelages and burdening the people who arent sick or elderly, and lets say i already have my education, i dont wanna pay for others?
brendan:
--- Quote from: "Galelleo" ---
--- Quote from: "brendan" ---To give federal government funds to student unions is effectively to give special privileges to some by visiting burdens on many.
--- End quote ---
Does that include health care? and public schools?
are we not giving them privelages and burdening the people who arent sick or elderly, and lets say i already have my education, i dont wanna pay for others?
--- End quote ---
yes to all. but there are occasions when such government intervention is justified. this is not one of them.
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