Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site watcgl.UUCP 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 -