[net.politics.theory] U.S. began as "Libertarian State"????

mwm@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA (01/01/70)

In article <515@whuxl.UUCP> orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) writes:
>>  <mike claims:
>> The US makes a good working example of this: it started as a relatively
>> libertarian state, grew strong and etc., and slid (is sliding) into a
>> totalitarian-socialism [and before the flames start, no, I do *not* think
>> those two are inevitebly coupled].
> 
>Once again we hear repeated the old rightwing myth that the United States
>began with a cabal of "Libertarians" and diehard advocates of "free 
>enterprise".
> 
>It is simply dead wrong for Libertarians to try to claim that the
>originators of our democracy were "Libertarians".
>Please stop making this claim!
>          tim  sevener   whuxl!orb

Tim, please *read* what you quoted from my article. I did not say word one
about the philosophies of the founding fathers of the US. What I did say
was that they founded a relatively libertarian state. The founding fathers,
like most groups, represented a range of beliefs, including a some with a
libertarian/free-enterprise stance. While they didn't manage to turn out a
truly libertarian state, they did manage to keep the US from using force to
make people contribute to its idea of "good," at least temporarily.

I won't stop making the claim that the originators of our republic were
libertarians. I can't, having never made it.

I wish *you* would start repling to what people said, as opposed to what
you wish they had said. You should consider Carnes as a model, or let him
speak for you.

	<mike

brian@digi-g.UUCP (Brian Westley) (03/24/85)

mwm@ucbtopaz.UUCP (Praiser of Bob) writes:
>.... What I did say was that they [the founding fathers] founded a
>relatively libertarian state. The founding fathers,
>like most groups, represented a range of beliefs, including a some with a
>libertarian/free-enterprise stance. While they didn't manage to turn out a
>truly libertarian state, they did manage to keep the US from using force to
>make people contribute to its idea of "good," at least temporarily.
>
>	<mike

Like slavery?

Merlyn Leroy
"Quote funny nose"