From: starr@genie.slhs.udel.edu (Tim Starr)
Subject: Re: Feminism and Libertarians
Organization: UDel, School of Life & Health Sciences
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 10:04:01 GMT

In article <1992Dec18.162816.20435@samba.oit.unc.edu> bolden@beta.math.unc.edu (Jeffrey Bolden) writes:
}In article <1992Dec18.110831.18508@genie.slhs.udel.edu> starr@genie.slhs.udel.edu (Tim Starr) writes:
}>In article <1992Dec17.175350.24565@samba.oit.unc.edu> bolden@beta.math.unc.edu (Jeffrey Bolden) writes:
}>}	As for the woman's concerns being trivial, I hope thats not the
}>}reason, especially since the platform does tend to take an antogonistic
}>}position on lots of woman's issues.  
}>
}>Like what?
}>
}>Tim Starr - Renaissance Now! - Think Universally, Act Selfishly
}>starr@genie.slhs.udel.edu
}>
}	Well to name a few off the of my head:
}1)  Woman in combat.

Don't know 'bout you, but I've been in combat with women.  You must mean in
combat positions in the military.  I'm a strict meritocratist for the
military, although I believe that we shouldn't have standing armies.  If
a woman can do the job best, then she should get it.  However, this would
rule out many women who aren't as good at, e.g., hand-to-hand combat as
many men are.

}2)  Woman and the draft, the platform does oppose the draft; but it should
}say "repeal the draft, that failling have woman participate fully".

This would tend to deter military conscription :-).

}3)  All laws currently protected the sick apply to the pregnant.

What law protecting the sick should be applied to the pregnant?  Why should
disease and pregancy be treated equally?

}4)  Sexual harrasment, being defined as an innitiation of force, would be
}compatable with libertarianism.

Would be, or wouldn't?  If I threaten to harm a woman unless she has sex
with me, that's sexual assault.  We already have laws against it.  If I
tell a woman I'll make her vice president of the company if she has sex
with me, where's the initiation of force?  If I tell her I'll fire her unless
she does, then I'm guilty of breach of contract unless this was one of the
contract terms she gave her informed consent to.

}5)  Strong penalties for rape.  The Republicans (believe it or not) are the
}only ones who have gotten behind this.

Fine with me.  However, some places had higher rape penalties than for
murder, which encourages rapists to murder their victims afterwards.  A
sense of proportion must be maintained.

}6)  Unequal laws with regard to dress codes on public property (the whole
}topless NY. debate).

Fine with me, too.

}7)  The ERA.

I guess.  Don't know too much about it.

}9)  Have UN sanctions regarding violations of human rights abroad apply to
}crimes against woman (for example female circumcision).

Good idea.

}10)  Have all civil rights legislation apply to woman until repealed.

What civil rights legislation doesn't apply to women?  And why should we
support extending any legislation that should be repealed?

}11)  Ban state agencies from regulating abortion.

Sure.

}12)  Consider birth control with all other devices for purposes fo insurance.

Why should the government be in the insurance business?

}13)  Ban premarital agreements.  Sounds much less libertarian than it is,
}just define marriage more traditionally as a total joining of two people. 
}then you can't sign any contract with regard to your spouse any more than
}you could with regard to your left leg.

I disagree with this legal fiction.  Marriage should be privatized into a
contract between the two parties.

}14)  end no force divorce.
}	I could probably think of others, but you get the drift.

What is this?

Tim Starr - Renaissance Now! - Think Universally, Act Selfishly
starr@genie.slhs.udel.edu

"True greatness consists in the use of a powerful understanding to enlighten
oneself and others." - Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire