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From: bob@pedsgd.UUCP (Robert A. Weiler)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Libertarians in Space
Message-ID: <170@pedsgd.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 29-Jun-85 15:46:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: pedsgd.170
Posted: Sat Jun 29 15:46:43 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Jul-85 07:05:17 EDT
References: <446@qantel.UUCP> <454@qantel.UUCP> <293@kontron.UUCP>
Reply-To: bob@pedsgd.UUCP (Robert A. Weiler)
Organization: Perkin-Elmer, Tinton Falls, NJ
Lines: 25
Summary: 

Organization : Perkin-Elmer DSG, Tinton Falls NJ

In article <293@kontron.UUCP> cramer@kontron.UUCP (Clayton Cramer) writes:
>
>There are many motivations besides self-interest and greed --- but there
>are no so certain 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.  
>
>Each ideology has constructed its systems based on these assumptions.
>If the socialist is wrong, and people are greedy and unconcerned for 
>others, then a socialist society will be poor and subject to tremendous 
>potential for abuse of the individual.  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.  Which
>do you want to rely on?

Its not the fact that the assumptions of Libertarians about
human behaviour might be wrong, its the fact that they might
be right that scares the bejesus out a me. I, for one, dont want to
live in a society which has elevated greed to be its highest virtue.