A useful contribution of Twitter to society is to reveal how little some people actually know about their causes.
It started with this. American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, was holding a meeting in Kansas City, and there was a lot of ALEC-bashing going on. But I like what ALEC does, as I tweeted:
I'm glad that #ALEC advocates for free markets and limited government, especially since freedom has so many enemies. #ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
Which provided an opportunity to explain the fundamental axiom of libertarianism, and how libertarians apply it to everyone, including government:
. @bob_weeks "The right to swing my fist ends where another man's nose begins." OWHolmes Jr
#ALEC has given KS a bloody nose.
#ALECSTFS
— Devin brick Wilson (@ksucats96) May 2, 2014
.@ksucats96 Libertarians call this the non-aggression axiom. It is foundational and applied to everyone, including government.#ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
As ALEC is accused of being a tool for corporate interests, I asked a question:
I'm curious. What corporate subsidy programs or handouts does #ALEC support? #ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
ALEC’s critics revealed themselves to be uninformed:
@bob_weeks Please Bob, you're cracking me up..
— Bill Thompson (@billnict) May 2, 2014
.@billnict Can you provide one example? #ALEC #ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
LOLOLOLOLOLOL “@bob_weeks: I’m curious. What corporate subsidy programs or handouts does #ALEC support? #ksleg”
— Xomfort (@Xomfort) May 2, 2014
.@Xomfort After regain your composure, would you give me an example of a corporate subsidy or handout that #ALEC supports? #ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
The following reveals severe confusion in its reference to Ayn Rand. Regarding capitalism, she wrote: “When I say ‘capitalism’” I mean a full, pure, uncontrolled, unregulated laissez-faire capitalism — with a separation of state and economics, in the same way and for the same reasons as the separation of state and church.” When business corporations ask for subsidies, tax breaks, and the like, they violate this principal. There is a conflict between the interests of many businesses and capitalism.
LOL Silly question #ALEC is a Randian cult peddling model bills to dim State Rep sycophants while corps laugh @tgiovanetti @bob_weeks #ksleg
— Xomfort (@Xomfort) May 2, 2014
.@Xomfort So do you have an example of a subsidy or handout that #ALEC supports? Even one? #ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
@bob_weeks @Xomfort Bob, we're not stupid, give it a rest… #ksleg
— Bill Thompson (@billnict) May 2, 2014
.@billnict So you are not able to name an example of a subsidy or corporate handout that #ALEC supports. Is that true? #ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
Telling someone what they know is a lazy and weak form of argument, isn’t it?
@bob_weeks Bob, we all know what #ALEC does & you do too… #ksleg
— Bill Thompson (@billnict) May 2, 2014
.@billnict Just one example, Bill. Just one example from #ALEC. If it's something "we all know" you should have an example. #ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
. @tgiovanetti @bob_weeks @billnict
139 reasons http://t.co/NPpbYwqst6
In Kansas 70%Corp kickback ed voucher tacked onto apprps bill
— Devin brick Wilson (@ksucats96) May 2, 2014
.@ksucats96 @tgiovanetti @billnict That helps students. Corporations don't escape paying taxes; same money is paid. Care to try again?
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
@tgiovanetti @bob_weeks ad hominem #ALEC is bad for our communities & has corp interests over the people.
— Bill Thompson (@billnict) May 2, 2014
.@tgiovanetti @bob_weeks @billnict Cronyism averted N #ksleg with denial of tax break4 Genesis Hlth Sys,despite Rodney Steven $45k 2 #ksleg
— Devin brick Wilson (@ksucats96) May 2, 2014
.@ksucats96 @tgiovanetti @billnict was that an #ALEC bill? I don't think it was. Do you have evidence to the contrary? #ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
.@bob_weeks @tgiovanetti @billnict follow the money, Mr. Weeks. But nice try. And this removes transparency.
— Devin brick Wilson (@ksucats96) May 2, 2014
.@ksucats96 @tgiovanetti @billnict you have evidence the money came from #ALEC? Where is such evidence?
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
. @bob_weeks @tgiovanetti @billnict
That was not to my knowledge an #ALEC bill, thought you would be interested, fighting cronyism
— Devin brick Wilson (@ksucats96) May 2, 2014
@bob_weeks @ksucats96 @tgiovanetti Legislators have testified that a certain legislation was a "direct ALEC pull." Who do they rep? Not us
— Bill Thompson (@billnict) May 2, 2014
.@billnict #ALEC largely represents what I want, which is limited government and free markets. Again, a specific example, please? #ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
.@billnict @ksucats96 @tgiovanetti If I criticized a bill simply because its source was #ALICE, would you find that persuasive? #ksleg
— Bob Weeks (@bob_weeks) May 2, 2014
I think that was the end of the conversation.
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