Limbo

Plato: Let us say for a moment that a number of individuals were told by their employer that they were not to return to work until further notice - that, for whatever reason, there was no work for them to do, that this employer was willing to pay for.

Socrates: So these men were without paying work - could they not find other employ?

Plato: Unfortunately, the circumstances of the world would not allow it, Socrates. They were not alone amongst the many working class, the bronze, the backbone of their entire civilization. They lived in sub-par conditions while a privileged elite controlled a vast majority of the wealth. My class of philosophers had done well for themselves, but had forgotten the people who allowed them to be philosophers at all.

Nietzsche: Why would men sell themselves to an employer in the first place? Have they no will to write their own destinies?

Plato: Once again, circumstances would not permit it...the masses are without capital to start a company or purchase one which already exists...they are without the resources, even collectively in many cases, to compete with preexisting business. But let us, for a moment, think about these men and women and their options. Let us say they decide to storm the complex of their workplace the day following their lack of employ, and continue to work with no regard for their employer or their paycheck - at least until they figure out the logistics of the business as a collective.

Thoreau: Plato, your lack of foresight amazes me - you recognize that these people would be cut down like straw in a field by the power structure of the state?

Plato: Indeed, Thoreau, I recognized this and I hope that one of you would as well. There was a case of this in the past, in a place by the name of Detroit, where four honorable, hard-working men lost their lives to the power of the state, supporting the interests of a single family - the Fords. Of course there are many cases of the state supporting the interests of a select few throughout history, in fact all cases likely - but this case will be most important to those who will come across this document.

So if we assume that they will be prevented from doing so by force, what is the conclusion we must draw?

Socrates: That the state, and that its division meant for the protection and safety of the people, are not in fact for that use at all.

Plato: Agreed.

Nietzsche: Agreed.

Thoreau: I concur.

Hume: Indeed.

Heidegger: Yes, I think we can safely say that it is unanimous amongst us. In the whole history of time, this has been the case. The state has never been for the safety and protection of the people. Only the people themselves can achieve this end.

Plato: Quite so, Heidegger.

Marx: It is as I had said, that eventually the people would rise up and take back the means of production, but the truth is that I did not say the other half - that a number of them would have their lives snuffed out shortly thereafter. But in doing so, the state would lose its support, and chaos would ensue.

Plato: Ah, but you underestimate the power of the modern state, Marx. They are not as incapable as they were in our time, not as limited in their abilities to communicate over vast distances, to spread propaganda quickly and efficiently, to control the public opinion. How easy would it be to say the workers were armed, and to not allow independent observation of the event?

Marx: Easy indeed, I must suppose, for a state bloated with trillions in capital.

Plato: If the state took it this far, then we must understand another fact of the state - that while it does not exist for the protection of the people, or to serve their interests collectively, it -does- exist for two reasons - one is the support the elite class of people both involved in government and who support it with capital, and two to support its continuing existence, the perpetuation of its class and the classes that support it.

Neitzsche: But none of these two classes care for the people - how could the people be so ignorant? Have we not all offered them a piece of enlightenment throughout the ages, can they not see that they have they have as much right to exist as this elite class, as much right for a good life? As much right to own a proportion of what they produce, as much right to control the government as they should be the government itself?

Plato: It is sad, Nietzsche - but I am afraid they have forgotten, all to quickly, that they are human. All too human.

Budgets

5.5 Trillion Dollars average spent per year between 1980-2000 on the "welfare state" of the United States.

Starting in 2005, 5 Trillion was spent per year on the military budget - which has steadily increased to nearly 10 Trillion per year, double the welfare state.

Taking that into consideration there is no argument with regards to the rich funding the existence of the poor via taxation - over half the amount that is spent on welfare is spent on the military. If these were the only two things that taxation paid for, 33% of all tax would go to welfare - but it's not the case. And the rich are not the main tax group, anyway.