From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Tue Aug 13 2002 - 22:57:10 MDT
Dan Fabulich wrote:
> Technotranscendence wrote:
>
>
>>>I'd argue that even the natural inclination of private citizens to
>>>promote a class system on this basis would have negative consequences
>>>for everyone, in the same way that racism would have negative
>>>consequences even in an anarchocapitalist society.
>>
>
>>I don't completely disagree, but in a free market society -- be it
>>anarchocapitalist or minarchist -- the costs of racism are more
>>localized.
>
>
> Actually, I think it's a toss-up. When racism/classism is in the
> majority, you're correct, the majority can pass laws which restrict even
> the minority from treating people equally. But when racism/classism is in
> the minority, the majority can pass laws which restrict the minority from
> discriminating on the basis of race/class/whatever.
>
So, it seems obvious that the way to avoid such evils is to
severely restrict and control the way laws are passed, how they
can legally be formulated and the limits on their enforcement.
A way to challenge and repeal laws that is not overly burdensome
must be devised. Most of all, certain rights must truly be
inalienable - incapable of being overridden by creation of any law.
> That isn't to say that a democratic-voting society is ever altogether
> better than a minarchist/anarchocapitalist society, even in the special
> case in which prejudice (of all kinds) is in the minority. I just mean to
> say that this is not one of those problems where the free-market
> particularly comes out ahead.
>
Free-market and democracy and demarchy are simply all
insufficient to the problem.
>
>>A person cannot, e.g., use the force of law to enforce
>>racism, though she might be bigoted herself. This does not mean the
>>problem is solved. After all, society is a kind of totality and
>>individual actions influence the culture at large. However, I think a
>>more free market society would likely become less racist over time --
>>or, at least, not as institutionally racist as quickly as a less free
>>market one.
>>
The problem of government instutition of bigotry is solved.
This does not mean that all ills are solved.
- samantha
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