From: lightw@cetra.trl.OZ.AU (Liron Lightwood)
Subject: What is this social contract stuff?
Organization: Telecom Research Labs, Melbourne, Australia
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 04:05:48 GMT

What is this Social Contract?  Is it credible?  Who wrote it?  Does this have 
any connection with any political party or organization, in NZ or outside?
I was just wonderring if there's any story behind it.

The Social Contract article follows:

meachen@med.wcc.govt.nz writes:


>Found this in our Notes disk, where someone was requesting the Treaty,
>will this do instead?


>Note 234.0                       Social Contract                      No replies
>MED::BROCKIE "Roger"                                 98 lines   7-MAY-1990 09:50
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>~Subject: Explicit social contract
>Message-ID: <1990May2.090738.16632@actrix.co.nz>
>~From: paul@actrix.co.nz (Paul Gillingwater)
>~Date: 2 May 90 09:07:38 GMT
>~Reply-To: paul@actrix.co.nz (Paul Gillingwater)
>Distribution: nz
>Organization: Actrix Public Access UNIX, Wellington, New Zealand
>~Lines: 86

>Here it is folks... the *explicit* social contract....  :-)
>--------------------------------------------------------------------


>                           SOCIAL CONTRACT
>            between an individual and the New Zealand Government


>       WHEREAS I wish to reside in the islands of New Zealand,
>          and
>       WHEREAS the New Zealand Government controls the area of
>          the islands on which I wish to reside, and
>       WHEREAS tacit or implied contracts are vague and therefore
>          unenforceable,

>       I agree to the following terms:

>       SECTION 1: I will surrender a percentage of my property to
>       the Government.  The actual percentage will be determined by
>       the Government and will be subject to change at any time.
>       The amount to be surrendered may be based on my income, the
>       value of my property, the value of my purchases, or any
>       other criteria the Government chooses.  To aid the Government
>       in determining the percentage, I will apply for Government
>       identification numbers that I will use in all my major
>       financial transactions.

>       SECTION 2:  Should the Government demand it, I will
>       surrender my liberty for a period of time determined by the
>       government and typically no shorter than two years.  During
>       that time, I will serve the Government in any way it
>       chooses, including military service in which I may be called
>       upon to sacrifice my life.

>       SECTION 3: I will limit my behavior as demanded by the
>       government.  I will consume only those drugs permitted by
>       the Government.  I will limit my sexual activities to those
>       permitted by the Government.  I will forsake religious
>       beliefs that conflict with the Government's determination of
>       propriety.  More limits may be imposed at any time.

>       SECTION 4: In consideration for the above, the Government
>       will permit me to find employment, subject to limits that
>       will be determined by the Government.  These limits may
>       restrict my choice of career or the wages I may accept.

>       SECTION 5: The Government will permit me to reside in the
>       area of New Zealand which it controls.  Also, the
>       Government will permit me to speak freely, subject to limits
>       determined by the Government's Parliament and High Court.

>       SECTION 6: The Government will attempt to protect my life
>       and my claim to the property it has allowed me to keep.  I
>       agree not to hold the Government liable if it fails to
>       protect me or my property.

>       SECTION 7: The Government will offer various services to me.
>       The nature and extent of these services will be determined
>       by the Government and are subject to change at any time.

>       SECTION 8: The Government will determine whether I may vote
>       for certain Government officials.  The influence of my vote
>       will vary inversely with the number of voters, and I
>       understand that it typically will be miniscule.  I agree not
>       to hold any elected Government officials liable for acting
>       against my best interests or for breaking promises, even if
>       those promises motivated me to vote for them.

>       SECTION 9: I agree that the Government may hold me fully
>       liable if I fail to abide by the above terms.  In that
>       event, the Government may confiscate any property that I
>       have not previously surrendered to it, and may imprison me
>       for a period of time to be determined by the Government.  I
>       also agree that the Government may alter the terms of this
>       contract at any time.



>       ___________________________________     __________
>       signature                               date


>       Copyright 1989 by Robert E Alexander.  May be distributed freely.
>       Slightly modified for New Zealand by paul@actrix.co.nz
>-- 
>>Paul Gillingwater, paul@actrix.co.nz


>--
>Red
Liron Lightwood                     Internet : r.lightwood@trl.oz.au
Telecom Research Laboratories       Phone : +61 3 253 6535
770 Blackburn Road                  Snail : P.O. Box 249 Clayton 3168 Australia
Clayton  Vic. 3168 Australia        Disclaimer : My views are not my company's