From: ard (rbrown@smb.sams.ch)
Date: Wed May 07 1997 - 09:37:33 MDT
> From: Sarah Marr <sarah.marr@dial.pipex.com>
> I don't agree that Extropians do not believe in coercion. They may not
> believe in corecion by the State, but how do they propose to effect even
> contractual law without any form of enforcement?
From the strict definition of the word, coercion, Extropians use coercion
as well as anyone else. Exploiting anothers' fear is coercion; fear of
being ostracized is but one way they coerce others to "fall in line".
However, it might be more accurate to say they do not believe in initiating
force. Enforcement of laws under an Extro-Society would not violate this
principle since all laws would have victims. The offender would then be
the initiator of force and the victim, having a contract with an
enforcement agency (private of course), would have the right to respond
through this agent of theirs. That, is how they would enforce their
rights. Writing about rights, we believe there is only one right...the
right to life. Rights to property, health, and liberty all derive from
this single right. If another can control our property (taxes, etc.) they
can deprive us of life, the same for health and liberty. To interfere with
anothers' life would be the only crime. And certainly we all recognize the
right to use force, if necessary to prevent someone from killing us, no
matter how slowly they are doing it.
ard
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