[mrbgty]

"You're a real person in real society where Entrepreneurs(with a big E) get subsidized security, roads, mail, water, food, electricity, education, health care, etc."

Just because they get those things, doesn't mean it's the best way to get them, or that they wouldn't prefer to get them in some other way.

[potatolicious]

This is a tiresome argument that's been repeated over and over, and is nothing more than an attempt to change the subject.

Inevitably it starts when someone complains about the "parasites", "moochers", or whatever the description of the day is. It's always "waaah! someone undeserving is getting my stuff!"

When the notion that nobody exists as an island is pointed out, and it becomes clear that those complaining about the "moochers" are in fact enormous beneficiaries of the system, the argument becomes "but the system isn't perfect!", as if that somehow justifies the "every man for himself" mentality that started the argument.

Objectivist arguments like this always start with the notion that greater good will arise from an objectivist society. When that stupid argument is thrashed good, the argument turns into one of personal freedoms. It's amazing how many about-faces people will make in order to hang onto the notion that everyone else is a useless good-for-nothing except themselves.

[mcantelon]

I think the point he was trying to make it that "parasites", in terms of taxpaying, exist both at the top and bottom of society.

[mrbgty]

Sure but that's kind of irrelevant since by that logic everyone is a parasite by force and not by choice.