wlim@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU.UUCP (08/17/86)
If we move up one level of abstraction, we can discuss the pros and
cons of the libertarian ideology with respect to the community
(i.e.society, group...whatever term you wished to use to describe such
a set) of nations that we now have on earth. Such a society has a
free market economic system and no effective government (the U.N.
doesn't make and can't enforce laws). Nations have sovereign rights.
Nations "own" land. But there is no effective judicial system to
resolve conflicts between nations. This leads to nations resolving
conflicts by force, coercion or negotiation. There are nations that
are rich, poor, powerful, weak, religious, secular, etc. Charity is
voluntary. There is no taxation.
Question: Will the libertarian system of government work for such a
society?
Willie
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-------kfl%mx.lcs.mit.edu@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU (08/23/86)
From: Willie Lim <WLIM@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU>
If we move up one level of abstraction, we can discuss the pros
and cons of the libertarian ideology with respect to the community
(i.e.society, group...whatever term you wished to use to describe
such a set) of nations that we now have on earth. Such a society
has a free market economic system and no effective government (the
U.N. doesn't make and can't enforce laws).
Libertarians aren't anarchists.
This is an interesting analogy. There are some major differences
between nations and individuals, though. One nation may invade
another nation because the latter is oppressing it's citizens. There
is nothing analogous with individuals. Two or more nations can merge
into one, and one nation can break into two or more pieces. A nation
can be a colony of another nation.
Another major difference is that a much greater proportion of
nations than individuals think that they are the center of creation.
... there is no effective judicial system to
resolve conflicts between nations. This leads to nations
resolving conflicts by force, coercion or negotiation.
Yes. For example the world court's ruling against the US support
for the Nicaraguan Contras has no effect. The world court's ruling
would make a lot of sense if Nicaragua and the US were individuals.
But they aren't. The US government believes that the current
Nicaraguan government does not represent the people of Nicaragua, and
thus we are in fact rescuing Nicaragua from an evil gang who have
taken over.
I do not know enough about the situation in Nicaragua to take sides,
except to oppose any taxpayer money being sent to either side.
Question: Will the libertarian system of government work for such
a society?
Anarchy is not libertarian. And the analogy doesn't really hold
that well, as I pointed out.
I do think that every individual has all rights that any government
has.
...Keith
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