From: Adrian Tymes (wingcat@pacbell.net)
Date: Sat Aug 31 2002 - 10:19:31 MDT
Rafal Smigrodzki wrote:
> 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?
Given as there is not really any way to return it to those from whom it
was taken, yes.
> 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?
The latter. And I justify this seeming contradiction thusly:
In the first case, it was not want of luxuries that caused my need of
resources - I did not consciously choose to be in my situation - nor did
I have the information to return the money to the one(s) who originally
earned it. Neither is true in the second case: I certainly know that my
money is mine, but more importantly, those whom I might help could
consciously choose to forego the luxuries, and then their needs may be
satisfied without having to tap my resources - thus, they do not need my
money.
If you want moral symmetry, you must correct for these two points first.
There may be others. But as it stands, the situations are asymmetric.
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