wlim@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU.UUCP (08/17/86)
It seems to me that advocates of libertarianism make implicit
assumptions about society e.g. there would be enough voluntary
contributions to take care of social problems so that these problems
would not threaten the existence and stability of the libertarian
system. As an aid to understanding what assumptions are made and how
reasonable these assumptions are, would someone describe how the
following countries can be transformed to stable libertarian
societies:
Grenada, Haiti, Namibia, the Philippines, and South Africa.
All these countries are in some form of transition and thus seem to be
just ripe for installing a libertarian form of government.
Willie
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-------KFL%MX.LCS.MIT.EDU@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU (08/22/86)
From: Willie Lim <WLIM@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU>
It seems to me that advocates of libertarianism make implicit
assumptions about society e.g. there would be enough voluntary
contributions to take care of social problems so that these
problems would not threaten the existence and stability of the
libertarian system.
Um, sort of. I would phrase it differently. I would say the amount
which individuals choose to donate to a cause is the right amount by
definition.
If the only way a system can be made stable is by taking money from
people against their will, then that system should NOT remain stable.
... would someone describe how the following countries can be
transformed to stable libertarian societies:
Grenada, Haiti, Namibia, the Philippines, and South Africa.
The problem is that there is only so much wealth to go around. A
libertarian system will result in more wealth than any other, but not
instantly. You might as well ask how will it help ten people in a
life raft with water enough for five to adopt a libertarian system.
The biggest problem is people's attitudes. Someone pointed out that
if we change the world without changing people's attitudes, they will
just change it back by Wednesday. There is a lot of truth in that.
In South Africa, most of the ruling whites fear giving any power to
blacks. A libertarian system would mean giving equal power to blacks,
so they would not adopt such a system.
In some countries there are large numbers of people who believe so
strongly in some cause that they are willing to blow themselves up
along with many innocent people. I don't know of any solution to this
in any political system.
I don't think it is likely that any of those countries will soon
adopt a libertarian system, given political realities. Neither is it
likely to happen soon in the US. But that has nothing to do with
whether it is RIGHT or not. What we CAN do is attempt to convince as
many people as possible that it is the system to have. And that it is
the only truly moral system. Doing so will make it more likely that
it will be adopted in the future. If not here, then elsewhere. If
not in this century, then in the next.
...Keith
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