From: Rafal Smigrodzki (rms2g@virginia.edu)
Date: Thu Oct 03 2002 - 21:32:03 MDT
James Hughes wrote:
>
> In the letter I argue that human dignity requires control of ones own
> body, and the same principle applies - control of our bodies requires
> strong, democratic governments prepared to defend those rights. We
> need defense from violence and crime, for instance. And I would argue
> that we need a social democratic state, providing education, health
> care and other social goods, in order to fully empower people to
> control their own bodies and lives.
>
> So the simple-minded dichotomy that leftists and liberals are
> collectivists (except when they accidentally end up defending
> individual rights) and conservatives are individualists (except when
> they accidentally support authoritarianism) doesn't really work for
> me. At least argue that libertarianism is beyond the traditional left
> and right.
>
### But isn't it starkly collectivist to insist on the state provision of
education, health care, protection from petty crime, and other goods that
are easy to buy privately (and much cheaper, too)?
Rafal
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