[553] in Vegetarian_Support_Group
Re: libertarianism
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Being "the Essence," and represent)
Thu May 11 17:51:44 1995
To: dianamar@Csa1.LBL.Gov
Cc: vsg@MIT.EDU
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Thu, 11 May 1995 11:04:15 PDT."
<950511110415.260092c6@csa1.lbl.gov>
Date: Thu, 11 May 1995 17:50:49 EDT
From: Being "the Essence," and representative of purity of intention <asalomon@joemama.mit.edu>
> would not this weak government advocated by libertarians be unable to
> prohibit animal experiments, toxic waste production and dumping, importation
> of wild animals or their body parts, etc. (that is, would it be unable to
> both pass such laws and enforce them)? The fact that our legislation is
> bad does not suggest that the ability to legislate should be eliminated; buy
> (sic) but only that we should change our laws.
> Animal rights advocates therefore in general support strong government but
> lobby for new and better laws.
> -diana
Generally it seems that while libertianism as a framework works well for
lack of infringing on rights, it does not have much protection for them
either. There seems to be an assumption somewhere in there that pure
laissez faire capitalism actually works, or can be reached for that matter.
I like the Libertarian spin on personal rights, I think it's the right
direction to move in, but:
1) I don't believe any pure system like that is actually attainable.
Seriously, we have a wierd mix of aristocracy/democracy (HUGE rich/
poor gap) and socialism/capitalism (pretty far capitalist with way
too much government intervention, however) goin' on here in the states.
Pure systems just don't work. A major reason Communism just can't work.
A more libertarian system would completely destroy subsidies for industry,
cut down on social services by making it competitive for business to
supply say health care coverage, housing, etc. --
this would help our cause because meat would actually cost what it
really should..
but I'd like to see such a system still working on major societal problems
of homelessness and joblessness with a whole lot more direction (like,
actually looking at the problem ..) and still having enough muscle to
_enforce_ some sort of protection measures for health, safety, and the
environment.
And back to the topic I was discussing..
2) Most Libertarians (as in, the party -- not necessarily people with
these beliefs quite so generally) seem in my limited experience to be an
outgrowth from the whole ultraconservative republican types who just
don't want to be associated with the GOP and have very extreme views
on some subjects (read: NRA and friends). I just can't agree with the
majority of that whole movement.
Yes, there is a lot of good we can get out of less far-reaching government;
BUT you have to watch out, because with a shrinking government all these
big bad corporate oppressors don't just suddenly go away.
- Ariel
