From: tip@lead.aichem.arizona.edu (Tom Perigrin)
Newsgroups: misc.rural
Subject: Re: proposed increase in inheritance tax
Date: 14 Oct 92 19:00:14 GMT
Distribution: na, usa
Organization: University of Arizona UNIX Users Group

In article <bill.719041356@chaos.cs.umn.edu> bill@chaos.cs.umn.edu ( Hari Seldon ... psychohistorian ) writes:
>In <1992Oct14.010619.5749@organpipe.uug.arizona.edu> tip@lead.aichem.arizona.edu (Tom Perigrin) writes:
>
>>Wow, I'm impressed.  This guy is so self sufficient that he doesn't need
>>the fabric of society around him.  He made his own terminal, his own network
>
>and how can you presume to say he didn't??????? i could, can you?
>if my services stopped right now i could replace them, can you??
>if we were put out in the woods with only ourselves i could survive and
>prosper, could you??

If the ability to grub out a living like an animal is a measure of a man's
worth, then I shant contest you for it.  I might be able to survive
out in the woods mano-a-mano with the bears, but personally, I like living in a
civilization.   Oh yes,  by the way, can you make your own antibiotics, 
provide your own chemotherapy and surgery, etc???

>>transportation system isn't needed to help bring goods and services to his
>
>thats not the government. thats other people doing what they have chosen
>to do with their lives.

Rolling on privately built roads?

>>The court system?  Don't need that... just shoot 'em all and let God sort
>>'em out.
>
>in some cases that may very well be the best thing that could happen.

Well, what can one say to such brilliant neanderthalism?


>                                          i've news for both of you
>grow up, become responsible for yourself, take charge of your life.
>heck *get* alife.

I have a life, thank you.  It involves being a part of a civilization
(have someone help you look that up in a dictionary and help you pronounce it).
I am in charge of that life, within the bounds of the social and cultural
mileaux. I am responsible for myself, within that same set of parameters.
But unless anyone is living as a hermit, compeltely cut off from outside
influence and benefits,  I would claim that they have formed a social
contract ala' Adam Smith..  the question lies not with the concept of sociatal
interdependance, but on the appropriate amount.

>btw someone else just jumped into this newsgroup (recently) just like you 
>did, and not that long ago. they also tried to do the same as you, so 
>get your head out of the clouds, and consider what you are typing 
>*before* you send it.

My dear bill,   I have been a member of this newsgroup for well over 
two years.  I don't post often, and seldom as controversially as I did
this last time.  But even so, please note that primacy doesn't 
neccesarily imply ascendancy in reason or value.

But I would much rather have my head in the white fluffy clouds, than
in the tight, constrictive warm brown place you seem to have wedged
your head :)  (I do hope that the allusion isn't lost on you)

And I do consider what I type before I send it.  I even use my brain
when I consider it.   Now, run off and dig up a few grubs and bang the
pretty rocks together,  and do try to evolve.  Its hard work,  but
worth it.