General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What would you describe as being the most EXTREME Left wing position? [View all]DireStrike
(6,452 posts)The point is the societal context. If somebody else were to take something that you were using currently (but didn't own), you could just go to the distribution center and get another.
Of course JoePhilly points out another problem with this argument via the infamous toothbrush argument. Just because there is no legal basis preventing you from doing something doesn't mean that a) anyone will WANT to do that, and b) there is no social pressure preventing one from doing that. For example, and I am not a lawyer, but there doesn't seem to be any law forbidding you from using, or attempting to use, a public bathroom urinal or stall that someone else is currently using. Yet this behavior would never occur, and 99% of people would rate it as poor behavior.
Public ownership of all houses (and cars) would be more complex and probably require at least some regulation. Certain locations would be more desirable; you wouldn't want people to come and take "your" house while you were at dinner, and just the logistical difficulty of moving (even if you could replace everything in a few days, it would be quite a hassle) make this much more complex than a simple proclamation of common ownership. Yet some do make this argument without the nuances, and it's quite annoying.