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Path: utzoo!watmath!watcgl!gcsherwood
From: gcsherwood@watcgl.UUCP (Geoffrey C. Sherwood)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Re: Heinlein & GOR
Message-ID: <512@watcgl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Jun-83 09:35:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: watcgl.512
Posted: Tue Jun 21 09:35:21 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jun-83 01:22:21 EDT
References: <2324@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 26


	This is in response to the article which (based on the
writer's memory) had the Moon is a Harsh Mistress's crew acting
in a Marxist fashion because they threw off the rule of their
absentee landlords on earth (I think that pretty well summarizes
the article).  Oy Veh!  A similar situation happened in 1776 in
a certain well-known country.  Whether a colony ever has the right
to throw off the rule of those who originally paid for it is a very
complex question (and not one to be brushed off with a 'Marxist'
label).  Perhaps there is no "right" answer, but history shows it
happening time and again.  Perhaps the Moon crew had more justification
than most because most of the people shipped to the moon were political
prisoners, excess population (from China), and so on, who could not
return (1G must be murder after years of 1/6 G) and who received no
benefit from being shipped there (except remaining alive).
	Even more importantly, Mike (the computer) gave a prediction
that at present rates of consumption (and shipment of grain) the moon
would be exhausted of obtainable resources (like water) within 7 years,
with canabalism in two more.  A prediction like that gives a certain amount
of justification to ANY possible solution, historical basis for separation
from a mother country (world?) aside.
	Basic conclusion:  If you are going to blast a book, read it.


	- geoff sherwood -
	- U. of Waterloo -