danw@oliven.UUCP (danw) (03/09/85)
[] Much time and effort has been given to the discussion of Libertarian principles and what elements are necessary to form a stable libertarian society. Having decided it would be better living in Libertaria (some of us have anyway) we are faced with with the daunting task of escaping across an ideological iron curtain , separating us from a far far better life. The problems associated with crossing this barrier have been in my opinion, under discussed among Libertarian theorists. Hope the following will promote some discussion. -> Given: we have a libertarian constitution ( right to property guaranteed etc. etc. ) and we have the votes to make this new constitution take effect tomorrow. Question: Do we do it? ------------------ NO. (at least no in the all or nothing fashion proposed above) ------------------ socialists have been claiming ( with some success ) that Libertarians are really anarchists in drag. If we pull the plug on the government, and one single little-old-lady starves in the dark as a result of it, the press will have a field day. Additionally pulling the plug on the government implies the repudiation of the national debt. Very powerful economic groups will see it as being in their interest to provide arms and support to "fight for liberty". Libertaria stands an excellent chance of being stillborn, lost to a left (or right) of center counter-revolution. So let me propose comrade danw`s NEW TEN YEAR PLAN: The constitution is passed but will NOT become the "law of the land" tomorrow ... it will do so in ten years. Year one. You still pay your taxes ( and the government can still break your head if you don`t). The only change is you get to pick where 10% of your tax money is spent. You can give it all to the Flat Earth Society or all to the MX program , or only 1% to ten groups. You make up the rules it is YOUR money. Year two. 20% . . . Year nine. 90% Year ten. 100% Year eleven. The new constitution is now in effect and as a result no one can force contributions from you. Please note that during the ten year plan strong market forces are at work. Who for example will give money for the IRS operating budget if they continue to act like the gestapo? The IRS would have ten years to clean up its act or to find an honest job elsewhere. Those government agencies that survive will do so by providing useful services and/or they will advertise successfully so as to convince people that their services are useful enough to be paid for. (Do you really want to pay for the ones that aren't useful? ) Many agencies , the FAA for example, may find direct fees to consumers (airplane users) the best way to support themselves. The market place will decide in each case how best to finance each service. Services requiring charity will find how best to "market" their charitable appeal. This "deregulation" of charity will have the same positive results as the deregulation of the airline and other industries. (More numerous, smaller , more efficient organizations) At the end of the ten year plan, those government agencies that have survived will be like AT&T. They will be providing a useful service at a fair price, and their competitors will keep them that way. Comments anyone? danw Please go see the movie 1984.