Opinion of the following statement

[Gustaf]

There is a point to what he's saying, but it's a little misleading.

[Gustaf]

Explain.

Forgot that I even posted on this topic. It is misleading because everyone regards themselves as superior to other people when it comes to these things. It would be like telling you that you're being arrogant when you suppose that you are more correct than, say, the majority that supports progressive taxes (or whatever). Most people consider their own ideas to be closer to the truth than other's. So, if you think that people should do this or that, and they don't unless you make them, you might consider yourself superior and in your full right to do make them do things.

[Gustaf]

As an aside, we create all sorts of rules because there is a difference in long-term and short-term perspectives, and we're aware that we're not always able to make the right decision on things.

For instance, when I run cross-country for excercise, I never run alone. The reason for this is that I know that the presence of someone else will make it impossible for me to slow down, or stop and rest. We will both help keep up each other's speed. Now, you could of course argue that this makes no sense at all, since if I want to keep a certain speed I can simply choose to do so. But there is a difference between the decision I can make before, keeping all things in mind, and the one I can make when my lungs are begging me to stop, just a little while. These things are very well documented in the sports world, for instance.

It's the same with laws and legislators. I might know that it's wrong to do certain things, but in a moment of weakness I may do so anyway. Ultimately, it's about rising above your special interest at the moment and promote more generall interest in the long run.

[Gustaf]

There's a difference between believing you're right and another person is wrong, and trying to force your personal values on someone else; that is, to bend and mold society by coercion, rather than persuasion.

Are we still talking about the same issue here? I think you're bringing libertarian anti-government principles into this now, but that's kind of changing the discussion. I was making a point on why we would want to coerce ourselves, not others. There are obvious logical arguments, though perhaps not too principled, for coercing other people!