From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rms2g@virginia.edu)
Date: Fri Aug 30 2002 - 08:46:15 MDT
I'd like to pose two Robin Hood questions, for both libertarians and
collectivists:
1. Imagine you are walking hungry on a forest path, your house destroyed by
flood, your insurance company folded (despite an AAA rating from Andersen),
you are too weak to find a job. Suddenly, Robin Hood shows up, and offers
you a wad of cash, taxpayer's blood still dripping. Will you refuse, on
account of the cash being dirty money, or will you say "yes" and just wipe
the stains?
2. Imagine you are walking happily an a forest path, after a day of hard but
rewarding work. Suddenly, Robin Hood jumps out of the bushes, with a neat
list of demands. He says, give me your money, because there is a whole lot
of people who need it. Indeed the list shows it all - your neighbor wants a
new car, so he doesn't have enough money to pay for his kid's school. His
wife wants lipstick, but then she couldn't pay health insurance. They want
you to pay the school, and the insurance. And it goes on, and on, farmers,
the retired, sugar producers, doctors, cops, bakers, millionaires, the able
unemployed, everybody wants a cut. And, Robin Hood says, if you pay, I'll
give you a tax break on your house, it's a good deal. Are you going to pay,
or will you clobber some sense into Robin Hood?
I bet 99 out of a hundred will say "Yes" to the first question, including
the vast majority of libertarians. But, the reverse of that decision (by way
of the Golden Rule, or moral symmetry) is that you may not refuse to
contribute to that wad of cash for the lifeboat situation.
If you want to be saved (and I know you do), you *must* be ready to save
others.
I would hazard a guess that most honest people would choose beating Robin
Hood up. Almost all of us have a sense that what we earn by exchanging our
labor and goods freely with others, is ours to dispose of, except if in a
lifeboat situation. The reverse of this sentiment is that you may not demand
from others to give you the fruits of their labor, even if they have a lot
more than you do (except if what they have is gained by extortion, fraud, or
other non-market methods). So, again by the Golden Rule:
If you want others to stay away from your honestly gained money, you *must*
stay away from other people's honest cash, too.
What are your answers to Robin Hood?
Rafal
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