Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site spar.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!spar!baba From: baba@spar.UUCP (Baba ROM DOS) Newsgroups: net.politics.theory Subject: Re: Libertarians in Space Message-ID: <377@spar.UUCP> Date: Sat, 29-Jun-85 04:53:23 EDT Article-I.D.: spar.377 Posted: Sat Jun 29 04:53:23 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 1-Jul-85 06:45:19 EDT References: <446@qantel.UUCP> <454@qantel.UUCP> <293@kontron.UUCP> Organization: Schlumberger Palo Alto Research, CA Lines: 26 > There are many motivations besides self-interest and greed --- but there > are no so certain (sic) to be present in almost all people, almost all the > time. The socialists assume that most people will look out for the interests > of the society as a whole; libertarians assume that most people will > look out for their own interests. > > Clayton Cramer Not quite. The socialists assume that people will *not* look out for the interests of society as a whole, exactly what you ascribe to the libertarian position. The difference is that the socialists assume that the interests of society as a whole *should* be looked after, and since they think no one else will, they rightly or wrongly expect government to do so. > If the libertarian is wrong, and > people are not entirely greedy, those positive attitudes will lead them > to private social activity for the good of the less fortunate. And if your libertarian is *correct*, private social activity will *not* replace the role of government, and the poor bastards will just starve in the dark. Ergo your libertarianism only works if it is fundamentally in error. Baba ROM DOS