From: John Clark (jonkc@worldnet.att.net)
Date: Wed Apr 18 2001 - 22:27:03 MDT
Travas Gunnell <travasg@yahoo.com> Wrote:
>one could say I'm a "libertarian socialist".
Hungry? Care for some jumbo shrimp?
> Private property is in many ways like a private form of state.
yes, but you almost make that sound like a bad thing.
>The owner determines what goes on within the
> area he or she "owns," and therefore exercises a
> monopoly of power over it.
A "monopoly" over such a restricted domain is not much of a monopoly.
> worker is a part-time slave. The boss says when to
> show up, when to leave, and what to do in the
> meantime. He tells you how much work to do and how fast.
Ok, we agree, work sucks. If you have found an alternative you have my
full attention.
> Talking back is called 'insubordination,' just as if a worker is a
> naughty child, and it not only gets you fired,
It beats situations where talking back is called treason and the thing that's
fired is a 44 magnum pressed against the back of your head. Governments
do things like that, companies don't.
>Unlike a company, the democratic state can be influenced by its citizens,
Baloney. Elections are dumb, an idiotic way of communicating your wishes, there
are much better ways. Every day I send hundreds of exquisitely precise messages
to the Free Market telling it what I want it to do. I also get to compare brands,
I can't do that In a democracy because I'm not voting for goods or services or
even policies, I just get to choose between two grab bags of promises every 4 years.
When I vote in the economy by making a purchase I'm sure to get it, I always
win. When I vote for the grab bag I may or may not get it. At any rate, the
chances that my vote will influence things is so small that it's not worth
my time to study the issues very deeply, the result is that the politician
with the better hairdo gets to make the decisions.
>"It is easy to perceive that the wealthy
> members of the community entertain a hearty distaste
> to the democratic institutions of their country.
Certainly, but what's your point? I have a hearty (and healthy)
distaste for the democratic institutions of my country too.
>freedom means more than the right to change masters
Quite so, it is the freedom to be left the hell alone. If you want to go play
socialist I have not the slightest objection, if you can find friends who want
to play with you that's fine too, just don't make me join your game, leave me
the hell alone. I have a pretty good idea which one of us will end up ahead
but feel free to prove me wrong, if you do you will have beaten me fair
and square in the free market of ideas.
John K Clark jonkc@att.net
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