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From: cramer@kontron.UUCP (Clayton Cramer)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: What is "capitalism"? (Explorations of "self-interest")
Message-ID: <276@kontron.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 25-Jun-85 11:55:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: kontron.276
Posted: Tue Jun 25 11:55:24 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Jun-85 07:42:14 EDT
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Organization: Kontron Electronics, Irvine, CA
Lines: 37

> Organization : Perkin-Elmer DSG, Tinton Falls NJ
> 
> >
> >Perhaps I can only suspect what's best for me.  But who can consistently
> >know better, and how?
> >
> >							Mike Sykora
> 
> I find it interesting to note that the libertarian ideal that the
> individual knows better than anyone else what is good for him apparently
> pertains to economics and health, but not to politics. I would like
> to point out that :
> 
> 1) Each citizen knows what is in his best interest.
> 2) In the US, citizens legally have the right to vote for almost anyone,
> 	including Libertarians, and the overwhelming majority choose
> 	NOT to do so.
> 3) Therefore, Libertarianism is not in each citizens best interest.
> 
> On a lighter note, I recall a saying " Democracy is based on the
> notion that 1000 people are smarter than any 1" ( or something
> like this. Does anyone know where this comes from? ). It seems
> to me that Liberterians believe that every individual is smarter
> than any group of 1000. I find this just as dubious.

Libertarian thought says, not that every individual is smarter than any
group of 1000, but rather:

1. Almost all legitimate social activities (including fire departments,
   helping the poor, and caring for the aged) can be done more effectively
   in the absence of government interference through voluntary association.
   
2. If a thousand individuals make stupid mistakes, it is unlikely they
   will all make the same mistake in the same way; a thousand people 
   following a powerful leader in an organization or government will
   make the same mistake together, and be more dangerous for it.