A Test of Consistency
A) Do you agree with the following general statement?
“If some members of some category of people might have done, or might be intending to do, something bad, that makes it justified for government agents to initiate force against everyone in that category.”
B) Which of the following statements, expressing specific examples of the general principle described above, do you agree with?
Example #1: “If some gun owners have committed murder or armed robbery, or might intend to, that justifies government agents forcibly disarming all gun owners.”
Example #2: “If some people hide evidence of violent crimes inside their homes, that justifies government agents forcibly searching the homes of anyone—or everyone—at random.”
Example #3: “If electronic communications are sometimes used to plan and carry out acts of violence, that justifies government agents intercepting, recording and spying on all electronic communications.”
Example #4: “If some people have knowledge concerning violent crimes, that justifies government agents interrogating whoever they want to, and forcing them to answer questions.”
Example #5: “If someone in a certain area has committed a violent crime, that justifies government agents arresting and imprisoning everyone in that area.”
Example #6: “If some people trying to immigrate into the U.S. intend to commit acts of violence after they arrive, that justifies government agents using force to stop anyone from coming in.”
What Your Answers Mean:
If you DISAGREE with all of those statements (general and specific), you are likely an advocate of freedom.
If you AGREE with all of those statements (general and specific), you are a fascist.
If you agree with some, but not all, of those statements, you are an unprincipled hypocrite.
Have a nice day.
(P.S. Let the jimmies rustle, let the hate mail flow.)