Re: Larger question about Libertarianism (was: Re: Reparations)

From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Wed Aug 01 2001 - 13:03:16 MDT


"Alex F. Bokov" wrote:
>
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>
> On Wed, 1 Aug 2001 inniss@sprynet.com wrote:
>
> > So, let's take a look at how much of America could really be claimed by the descendants of slaves if basic Lockean and libertarian rights theory is fairly applied. It might end up being a lot more than 40 acres.
> >
> > n.b. The above is not intended to imply that I am myself a libertarian or endorse the libertarian or objectivist philosophies.
>
> Hmm. That raises an interesting larger question about Libertarianism
> that I hope somebody smarter than me can answer-- how would
> transfer/sale/inheritance of stolen goods be handled in Libertopia?
> Does it automatically revert to the original owner if they can prove
> that they are, or would 'posession is nine tenths' prevail? Also, do
> Libertarians support inheritance of debt?

I would expect that those who paid the property taxes on the land for
the past 135 years could put a lein on it if it were seized for
reparations. I doubt that many african americans would be willing to
mortgage the land just to catch up on back taxes and would just quit the
claim on the land.

Frankly, I'd like to see the federal government give away a chunk of the
30% of the US it owns 'in trust' to African Americans in reparations.
Those who are productive would go out and get to work improving the
land, those that aren't would sell their land on the open market at
steeply discounted prices for what they could get for it, and we'd be
done with this silliness once and for all.



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