Was America founded on principles similar to Anarcho-Capitalism and Social Darwinism?

Question

Obviously these terms did not exist when America was founded but I recognise much Anarcho-Capitalism and Social-Darwinist rhetoric in posts by Americans railing against welfare schemes and any suggestion of "socialised" medicine.

It seems to me that the Conservative stance in America should be to make housing, food and medical care available only to those "superior" people who can afford to purchase it, thereby causing the "inferiors" who are, through ill-health, disability, laziness, lack of intellect or otherwise unable to afford it to die out.

To me this is disgusting and inhuman but I can't help wondering if this is how these people really think . . .

Answer 1

It wasn't started that way, but it moved very far in that direction during the industrial revolution and it took a Great Depression to embolden labor and average Americans to demand justice, liberty and fair treatment for all Americans.

Sadly, America is rapidly moving back in that direction both economically and socially. Just look at all the heartless questions and answers you can read here, such as "Why should my tax dollars help lazy leeches" (which presumably would include the millions of Americans who've lost their jobs and accepted unemployment under the Bush administration, or the millions who through no fault of their own cannot afford health insurance - including the innocent children of those who have been laid off).

Surprisingly, and sadly, much of this "s***w the poor and needy" attitude is coming from and supported by many within the fundamentalist Christian community, which claims to believe in the Bible and it's teachings - except, apparently, the Bible's teaching to care about and help others when you can, and Jesus' ehoxrtation, "In that you have done this [helped] for the least among you, you have done it for Me." But for some who want to greedily hold onto every penny they earn and fear that they might actually have to help someone less fortunate, it seems that this part of Biblical teaching is just too inconvenient. I have no doubt that when they lose their jobs or their businesses and need help for their families, they will suddenly have a very different view of those same Biblical teachings.

Answer 2

Judau-Christian principles

Answer 3

i think america founded on principles such as that it was a place where they put all social outcasts, thick, over weight ppl in the hope that they could no longer contaminate the earth!!!!!

Answer 4

simplistity in responces are often seen as ignorant, arrogant, elitist or bigoted. Unfortunately for communicative purpose, most people don't want to take the time to explain their comments. They just want to vent their frustration.

Here's the deal on your theme. America was founded on freedoms, and freedom requires personal responciblity. Some abused this freedom, some were unaware of this freedom. This freedom is what has made this country great, because it is free. Though freedom means many different things to many different people, freedom is never granted, it can only be taken away. Thust the frustration! In this freedom, most everyone goes to work everyday to support themselves and their families. They don't think they are special, handed a silver spoon when they were born or that people with less are any less, as they may just be making it themselves and might be close to not having anything at any moment, or at least the perception is there. Now comes a government, that will pay you to have children, give you advantage because you are some ethnicity. Allow you to be (something) dysphoric that is not at all a life stoping issue and give you money for it. Never once allowing you to take control of your own problems or perhaps at best, making it easy if you can make it with just a little bit of help.

I can't, won't and don't blame people that work hard everyday, struggle to pay their bills at the end of each month who look at the world around them and see others getting a lift up because they make some claim of victimhood (it is happening everyday and I can site specific examples). While they themselves ask for nothing more then to be left to do as they see fit for thier life.

What I have learned in my 53 years of living life is that there are a lot of people that will complain that they don't having anything going for them, get angry with those around them that have things going for them, and are unwilling to do what it takes to have things going for them.

There is a very basic rule of thumb, that will afford anyone that trys it to get ahead. It is simply, Show up! Show up for school and learn what it is that is being taught in the class room. Show up for your job and do what your boss askes of you untill you have gained enough knowlege to start your own business (I had little to start with, and I was never out of work, because I had a work ethic that was more important then a vacation ethic). Show up for your responcibilities when starting a family, in that, don't start one if you can't afford one. Anyone that follows these simple tasks and has the wherewithall to know that they can change their lives, will be successful in anything they choose to do.

Looks like there are at least three people in the audience that don't want to have to earn what they got! LOL

Answer 5

More along the lines of anarcho-capitalism since it stresses individualism, free markets, and the right to private property.  America was influenced by classical liberal philosophy (which is far different form of liberalism today), which stressed some market intervention.  Anarcho-capitalist only believe in laissez-faire markets with no intervention, no crony capitalism, and no government granted monopolies either by patents or copyrights.

Conservatives believe in voluntary charity rather than coerced charity, which is more along the lines of anarcho-capitalism. It is not Social Darwinism where there is only competition and the "weak" are hung out to dry.  Many people, including conservatives, don't mind helping people who help themselves.

"It is easy to be conspicuously 'compassionate' if others are being forced to pay the cost."--Rothbard.

EDIT: It depends on your definition of "enough" and "needy".  Ultimately it is a moot point, since the welfare state is built upon violence and the state has failed numerous times at providing "enough" while perpetuating people being dependent on the welfare state.  

If you were not taxed heavily, then you would have more money to spend and donate.  It is really an individual decision to give to charity that should not be forced upon others.  

Anarcho-capitalism is based on the idea truly free markets will bring the most prosperity.  As one can see, the nations that have embrace a good amount of free market ideology are prosperous, free, and have almost completely eliminated absolute poverty.

Answer 6

Yes, and the UK will follow in 10 - 20 years.

I work in the care sector in the UK and if the average voter knew how his hard earned tax £ was making companies rich [and their major shareholders]

The fact is that some people require assistance but the economy will not bare the weight of the tens of thousands of malingerers and ne'er do wells for much longer!

Answer 7

No.   But it certainly drifted into them.

The founding fathers would have had kittens at the thought.

Answer 8

On bullpoo and horsedoodoo

Answer 9

Is that why the statue of Liberty says:

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Of course not!  America is the land of opportunity and ALL share in its success.  Precisely because of the freedom offered here, some of our most humble can still succeed.

Answer 10

Anarcho-Capitalists? Social Darwinists? Did someone find a new book to read? Why not use the terms that the common folks use?

You rail about the folks who can not afford housing, which is hard to consider, because housing now is so much cheaper (vis-a-vis per annum income) that literally anyone who wants to can afford it.

If people are lazy and don't want to work, they should not enjoy the fruits of the labor of others; that is Communism.

Now, if you re-read your own words, the paragraph starting with: "It seems to me..." you will see that you contradict yourself!

Answer 11

It seems to me that your stance is to minimize personal responsibility to the lowest common denominator, rely on the government for everything, and then at the same time, blame the government for all your ills.

Answer 12

I've got no idea ,have another drink!

Answer 13

No.  I find you and all the Euros disgusting and inhuman as well, not to mention so obsessively bigoted about Americans that you ignore all of your own problems.   It will catch up with you.  Saalam.

Answer 14

In English please!

Answer 15

Essentially the US is repeating the same mistakes it did during the Gilded Age.  Its likely what is to follow will be another age of reform and RE regulation. Herbert Spencer's SOCIAL DARWINISM dating from 1869 is just another justification for unchecked greed.

The very idea of a social safety net is an abomination to these people who subscribe to the Grover Norquist brand of social philosophy.

During the Reagan administration we began to see more mentally ill people on the streets and closed mental hospitals.

I think we owe a lot to the reforms of Theodore Roosevelt and FDR.

One thing these Republican administrations teach us is there is a limit to deregulation.

And instead of having more than half of the country's wealth concentrated in 1% of the nation's population, ( 1890)*

we now have 90% of the nation's wealth held by 1% of the American population.

Just how long does one think this imbalance can be sustained?

Answer 16

well i think america was founded.

over the bases, and rules of brewmakers.(sam adams, george washington, and a lote more)

quality, purity and a little dope

Answer 17

Lady Moon: It would take me an hour to answer this, however, in Capitalist societies, yes, you do have classes. If your perturbed with current US policies, the short answer I can give you is that this is very much a country divided. Remember, in the past two elections, 110 million votes have been cast AGAINST George Bush, unfortunately, 112 million have been cast for him.  

Answer 18

Revelation 13:1-2

And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion:  and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

"Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people.  To destroy this invisible government, to befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day."  Theodore Roosevelt, April 19, 1906

In 1663, the owner of the tract of land now known as Washington, D.C. had been one Francis Pope.  He predicted a more mighty capital than Rome would occupy the hill, and foresaw that later generations would command a great and flourishing country in the new world.  He related that he had a dream in which he'd seen a splendid parliament house on the hill ... which he purchased and called Rome, in prophetic honor of the "great" city to be.

Plus, the unfinished pyramid on the Seal of the United States is incomplete because it's the Egyptian Mystery equivalent of the Temple of Solomon.