rwsh@hound.UUCP (R.STUBBLEFIELD) (05/28/85)
[] In an attempt to see if there is any consensus as to what the terms "capitalism," "socialism," and "libertarianism" mean, I plan to submit a poll to net.politics. Last time I tried polling the net I got many suggestions on better wording for the poll. If you want to suggest improvements on this poll before it is sent out, please send me mail or discuss openly in net.politics.theory. ihnp4!hound!rwsh or by US Mail to Bob Stubblefield AT&T-Bell Labs Rm 2J611 Crawfords Corner Road Holmdel, NJ 07733 201-949-2846 Many different meanings are used for the labels "capitalism," "socialism," and "libertarianism." For each statement place a check under C if you think this is implicit in capitalism, S if you think this is implicit in socialism, L if you think this is implicit in libertarianism, Y if this is a statement you agree with. C S L Y Political-Economic Statements 1. The purpose of government is to protect individual rights. 2. The purpose of government is to provide for a fair distribution of wealth. 3. The purpose of government is to protect the interests of the rulers. 4. Laws against victimless crimes do not protect individual rights. 5. The "right to property" is an individual right. 6. The "right to a job" is an individual right. 7. The "right to an education" is an individual right. 8. The "right to secede" is an individual right. 9. The "right to incorporate" is an individual right. 10. Taxes are necessary for the existence of government. 11. Conscription is necessary for the existence of a government. 12. Government can only be maintained by violating individual rights. 13. Government regulation of economic affairs is necessary. 14. Protection of individual rights requires separation of state and economics. C S L Y Moral Statements 1. It us always moral to act in your own self-interest. 2. Self-sacrifice is more moral than acting in your self-interest. 3. Your view on morality does not have any bearing on the validity of your political theory. 4. Sacrificing others to yourself is not immoral. 5. The initiation of force is wrong. 6. People should get what they need. 7. People should get what they earn. 8. Morality is not objective. 9. Government is evil. 10. Irrationality is the root of all evil. 11. Money is the root of all evil. C S L Y The Nature of Man 1. Man is inherently good. 2. Man is inherently evil. 3. Man is self-made--has volition and chooses for good or evil. 4. The prevailing economic system determines how good or evil someone is. 5. Man is driven by his emotions. 6. Man is driven by his ideas. 7. Man is driven by his instincts. 8. Your view on the nature of man does not have any bearing on the validity of your political theory. C S L Y The Nature of Knowledge 1. Man's knowledge is a product of the operation of his consciousness on the material provided by his senses. 2. Extra-sensory perception yields knowledge. 3. Revelation yields knowledge. 4. Nobody really knows anything. 5. Who am I to know? 6. Your view on the nature of knowledge has nothing to do with the validity of your political theory. C S L Y The Nature of the Universe 1. The universe is all that exists and it is real--not imaginary. 2. There is a supreme consciousness which is outside of nature. 3. Things are what they are. 4. Contradictions do not exist. 5. Miracles can happen. 6. Your view on the nature of the universe has nothing to do with the validity of your political theory.
mms1646@acf4.UUCP (Michael M. Sykora) (05/29/85)
You sure you didn't get this poll out of Penthouse or something?
rwsh@hound.UUCP (R.STUBBLEFIELD) (06/09/85)
[]
Thanks to those who offered comments on how to improve the -ISM poll.
I have just posted the new and improved version to net.philosophy and
net.politics. In addition to modification suggestions, there were 6
responses to the poll in its original form. Some of the information in
these responses is tabulated below. (Two respondents offered information
on the -ISMs' disagreement with the statement. Only agreement is tabulated
below.)
Many different meanings are used for the labels "capitalism," "socialism,"
and "libertarianism." For each statement place a check under
C if you think this is implicit in capitalism,
S if you think this is implicit in socialism,
L if you think this is implicit in libertarianism,
Y if this is a statement you agree with.
C S L Y
Political-Economic Statements
1 4 5 1. The purpose of government is to protect individual rights.
6 2. The purpose of government is to provide for a fair distribution of
wealth.
1 1 1 3. The purpose of government is to protect the interests of the rulers.
1 5 6 4. Laws against victimless crimes do not protect individual rights.
4 5 6 5. The "right to property" is an individual right.
5 2 2 6. The "right to a job" is an individual right.
5 1 2 7. The "right to an education" is an individual right.
5 3 8. The "right to secede" is an individual right.
1 2 4 9. The "right to incorporate" is an individual right.
2 4 1 2 10. Taxes are necessary for the existence of government.
1 2 1 11. Conscription is necessary for the existence of a government.
2 2 12. Government can only be maintained by violating individual rights.
2 5 1 13. Government regulation of economic affairs is necessary.
2 4 3 14. Protection of individual rights requires separation of state and
economics.
C S L Y
Moral Statements
2 3 4 1. It us always moral to act in your own self-interest.
3 2. Self-sacrifice is more moral than acting in your self-interest.
1 1 2 2 3. Your view on morality does not have any bearing on the
validity of your political theory.
1 3 1 1 4. Sacrificing others to yourself is not immoral.
1 6 4 5. The initiation of force is wrong.
6 1 6. People should get what they need.
5 4 5 7. People should get what they earn.
1 1 4 3 8. Morality is not objective.
2 1 9. Government is evil.
1 2 10. Irrationality is the root of all evil.
11. Money is the root of all evil.
C S L Y
The Nature of Man
2 2 1. Man is inherently good.
3 2. Man is inherently evil.
2 1 2 5 3. Man is self-made--has volition and chooses for good or evil.
1 2 1 4. The prevailing economic system determines how good or evil
someone is.
3 5. Man is driven by his emotions.
1 1 1 5 6. Man is driven by his ideas.
1 1 4 7. Man is driven by his instincts.
1 2 2 8. Your view on the nature of man does not have any bearing
on the validity of your political theory.
C S L Y
The Nature of Knowledge
1 1 4 1. Man's knowledge is a product of the operation of his consciousness
on the material provided by his senses.
1 1 2. Extra-sensory perception yields knowledge.
1 1 3. Revelation yields knowledge.
1 1 2 4. Nobody really knows anything.
1 1 1 5. Who am I to know?
1 1 2 6. Your view on the nature of knowledge has nothing to do with
the validity of your political theory.
C S L Y
The Nature of the Universe
3 1 1 5 1. The universe is all that exists and it is real--not imaginary.
2. There is a supreme consciousness which is outside of nature.
3 1 2 5 3. Things are what they are.
2 3 4. Contradictions do not exist.
2 1 5. Miracles can happen.
1 3 6. Your view on the nature of the universe has nothing to do with
the validity of your political theory.