Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site whuxl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxj!houxm!whuxl!orb From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) Newsgroups: net.politics,net.philosophy Subject: Re:Democracy and Libertarianism Message-ID: <408@whuxl.UUCP> Date: Thu, 3-Jan-85 08:30:23 EST Article-I.D.: whuxl.408 Posted: Thu Jan 3 08:30:23 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 4-Jan-85 00:30:38 EST References: <395@ptsfa.UUCP> <12@ucbcad.UUCP> <2585@sdcc3.UUCP> <32@ucbcad.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Bell Labs Lines: 29 Xref: watmath net.politics:6545 net.philosophy:1334 > > > > Should these people be forced to be educated? Should I be forced to > > provide their education (thru taxes, etc.)? The idea that the > > initial use of force should be utilized to solve problems is exactly > > what libertarians are arguing against. Force should only be used to > > respond to attempts to infringe on an individuals rights to life, > > liberty, and property. > What if the people in a community jointly decide that they would rather all contribute towards the education of the children in their community? Don't they have the right to do this? Or don't people in groups have any rights at all? What if the people working in a plant all decide that they would be benefitted by contributing money every month to a union to defend their group interests? Most union representation votes are approved by over 80% of the membership. Libertarianism really accepts no concept of community or even group rights or responsibilities. Yet the fact is that people often accomplish more by working as a group than as a bunch of isolated individuals. In fact, many tasks MUST be accomplished by a group with its division of labor and the pooling of group resources. This means that some people HAVE to compromise and sacrifice some of their freedom to accomplish such goals. I happen to think that education of a new generation is important and worth paying taxes for, even if currently I have no children of my own. A vast majority of people agree and vote for bond issues for public education on a regular basis. I think they have the right to agree collectively and democratically to do so. tim sevener whuxl!orb