Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site x.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!qantel!dual!lll-crg!gymble!umcp-cs!seismo!harvard!think!mit-eddie!cybvax0!frog!x!wjr From: wjr@x.UUCP (Bill Richard) Newsgroups: net.politics.theory Subject: Re: Re: (micromotives & macrobehavior) Message-ID: <567@x.UUCP> Date: Sun, 15-Sep-85 21:05:57 EDT Article-I.D.: x.567 Posted: Sun Sep 15 21:05:57 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 19-Sep-85 06:28:56 EDT References: <3476@topaz.UUCP> <28200073@inmet.UUCP> Reply-To: wjr@x.UUCP (STella Calvert) Organization: Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA Lines: 37Note: This is STella Calvert, not wjr, and not frog. In article <28200073@inmet.UUCP> janw@inmet.UUCP writes: > Unfortunately, tighter political systems tend to outfight >the looser ones, given equal economic and demographic assets. > I am speaking as someone sympathetic to Libertarian goals, but >the defense problem does trouble me. > JoSH and Nat have pointed out many *existing* private systems >that might take over government's social functions: charities, >insurance, etc. For defense, there is very little to show. > Jan Wasilewsky > I currently live in a "looser political system"; this system places many restrictions on the weaponry I can stockpile for my defense. In libertaria, I would be free to purchase the weapons I felt were necessary, hire the assistance I required, and know that my neighbors, likewise free, would be ready to defend our common condition of non-coercion by killing the coercers. In a "looser political system", the state still has a monopoly on coercion, and on defense (of their right to coerce). Not only wouldn't I cross the street to defend this statist right, if I did want to, the state would say "Sorry, you're female, you can't go into combat situations (unless maybe someday we desperately need you)." But (I think I hear a voice crying) how are you going to defend yourself against a rival group with nuclear weapons? Simple. I'm not. If you convert me from a productive person to a vortex of plasma, I won't be much use to you. Nor will my house, factory, or file of unpublished works in progress. So nuke me! STella Calvert (guest on ...!decvax!frog!wjr) Every man and every woman is a star.