Does anyone else yearn for a society based on inequality?

[giblets]

I don't expect countries to disintegrate below populations of a few hundred thousand in this system, government just get's too damned expensive at such small numbers. A simple ban on intervention in other sovereign nations who respect the right of citizens to emigrate backed up by NATO-like transnational organizations seems to be something that could be enough to keep conflicts at levels of destruction no greater than today's wars.

What if people want to withdraw from the NATO-like transnational organization? Are you going to force them to stay? So much for freedom of association. Apparently you want radical self-determination and a world government.

[DaShi]

He wants racial/cultural segregation at the global level.

[Aeson]

If I happen to go to the movies one night, and my neighborhood secedes, will I have to sleep at the theater because I'm not welcome to emigrate to the new country? Or will I be deported from the movie as an illegal immigrant?

[Dr Strangelove]

Not really. Many people would consent to being owned by another if that meant a warm bed, hot meal and a rudimentary guarantee of medical care and a pension plan.

That's not the point. Being a slave implies ownership by another person and that the owned determines what the slave does and where he goes. Slaves by definition don't have the right to emigrate unless their owner demands it.

No. The fact that Palestinian land was taken does not mean that its wrong for Jews to want to keep the land they have today.

So if the rest of the world turned its back and Yugoslavia (perhaps with Russia's help) took Slovenia back, with the Slovenes fleeing for their lives that would be OK?
What are your thoughts on Abkhasia and South Ossetia?

Yes, this seems a straightforward conclusion. Why does it seems surprising to you?

So you would approve of the formation of independent Turkish enclaves within Germany?
If I move to Slovenia can my family form their own republic in your country?

[KrazyHorse]

I can't believe any of you still bother to read Hera's ridiculous posts.

[Heraclitus]

What if people want to withdraw from the NATO-like transnational organization? Are you going to force them to stay? So much for freedom of association. Apparently you want radical self-determination and a world government.

transnational organizations

[Heraclitus]

He wants racial/cultural segregation at the global level.

No. I'm talking about radical respect for self-determination here nothing else. Do you have so little faith into your own vision of society that you think, given a choice, most people in the world would choose to self segregate?

Ridiculous. Meritocracies like Singapore (very diverse) would thrive and provide an example others would wish to follow.

[Heraclitus]

So if the rest of the world turned its back and Yugoslavia (perhaps with Russia's help) took Slovenia back, with the Slovenes fleeing for their lives that would be OK?

The strong take from the weak. It has been and always will be thus. Crying over it seems to betray a lack of character, however not engaging in it seems to be a sign of either weakness or honour.

[Dauphin]

I can't believe any of you still bother to read Hera's ridiculous posts.

Why the tautology? Or has he made non-ridiculous posts?

[Heraclitus]

Or has he made non-ridiculous posts?

In the distant past, sometime before late 2009.

[giblets]

transnational organizations

So you want competing blocs instead? And you're confident that none of them will consolidate enough power to become a government that doesn't allow secession?

[Dr Strangelove]

The strong take from the weak. It has been and always will be thus. Crying over it seems to betray a lack of character, however not engaging in it seems to be a sign of either weakness or honour.

All right, it's official! Our forum has it's first bone fide member from the Russian mafia!

[Heraclitus]

That's not the point. Being a slave implies ownership by another person and that the owned determines what the slave does and where he goes. Slaves by definition don't have the right to emigrate unless their owner demands it.

Animals can be taken away from the owner if its been determined that they are being abused. Are domestic animals fundamentally not property? You might argue that the animals don't decide to go away.

What if animals where genetically engineered or trained early on to leave or report their owner should they experience some things that are clearly abuse? Are they no longer property? And please no talk about free will, that is a big can of worms.

So you want competing blocs instead? And you're confident that none of them will consolidate enough power to become a government that doesn't allow secession?

Perhaps. But to get all countries to accept this right to secede and emigrate de jure isn't that hard, what I want is not universal enforcement but recognition and importance comparable to that of other human rights.

Also I don't know why the discussion has shifted towards micro or very small states. I don't think people really like living in small countries that much, I think that if the rights of secession and emigration where globally accepted there would probably be no more than 400 or 500 different countries and plenty of countries with much more than a 50 or 100 million people. Why would this be orders of magnitude more difficult to achieve than the current order of ~200 recognized independent states?

[KrazyHorse]

Why the tautology? Or has he made non-ridiculous posts?

Expressing tautologies is worthwhile when there are those who apparently haven't drawn the obvious conclusion.

[Aeson]

I don't think people really like living in small countries that much, I think that if the rights of secession and emigration where globally accepted there would probably be no more than 400 or 500 different countries and plenty of countries with much more than a 50 or 100 million people.

Let's see... you can be a slave, or secede and be a king... tough choice.