From: gallo@almira.asel.udel.edu (Andy Gallo)
Subject: Re: Libertarian Party (RE: Al and Tipper Gore)
Organization: AI duPont Institute
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 01:23:19 GMT

In article <1992Oct7.234359.8914@sunspot.noao.edu> brown@sunspot.noao.edu (Todd Brown) writes in response to my article (my words in >>):
>>	To me, the Libertarian platform has no respect for
>>environmental concerns.  Essentially they want to repeal all the laws
>
>Where do you get this idea, there is no mention of repealing
>enviromental laws, except if you mean eliminating the acceptable
>limits of pollution concept, there are no acceptable limits of
>pollution. Pollution is pollution.

	First off, the candidates I have experience with (Tom Uffner,
running for Delaware State Assembly from Newark, Richard Cohen,
running for Delaware governor, and Margaret "Peggy" Schmitt, running
for U.S. House of Rep.) all favor the *repeal* of major environmental
acts (this is from direct quotes in the Wilmington News Journal from
the past week as well as word "from their mouth to my ears" over beers
in the Deer Park).
	Allow me to quote from the 1990 Libertarian party platform
(I'm sorry I do not have the 1992 platform):

***
Pollution of other people's property is a violation of individual
rights...
Strict liability, not government agencies and arbitrary
government standards, should regulate pollution. 
We therefore demand the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency.  
***

	I also disagree with the idea that there are no "acceptable"
levels of pollution.  In theory, yes, we would all consume with 0%
effect on the environment.  But in practice, this is an impossibility
in an industrialized society.  Everytime you get in your car you are
polluting.  Do we want your next door neighbor, who rides a bike to
work, to be able to sue you for driving your Ford and polluting her
air?  Life in the public sector is about compromise.  We all reap the
benefits of modern conveniences.  We do not live in a vacuum - our
actions have environmental effects.  We need to collectively decide
what price we will pay for the modern life.  I would argue that the
current legistlation is too loose, but I favor tightening them (ie.
lowering thresholds).  I reject the idea of repeal and the notion that
there is something inherently illogical with standards.  Again, its
the extremism of the Libertarian position showing through.

>So who's stopping them from dumping now? Do you think the current
>government is stopping toxic dumping better read around. 

	The thing that strikes me the most about the Libertarian
arguments is their insistance on the "but what do you think you have
now" syndrome.  I am not rising in support of the status quo.  I find
*our current* government to be too intrusive, not effective, and not
catering to the needs of the average citizen.  Myself and the
Libertarians will never disagree on the definition of the problem,
only on the implementation of the solution.

>Libertarians want to limit the power of government and get government
>out of our personal business. And to get government out of business,
>whats the problem here, you don't like living your own life or do you
>perfer the government taking care of everything so you needn't have
>worry about anything.

	I want the government out of my private life (ie. my house
and my body) but I very much do want the government to intervene in
the public sector (not "the government of today", but the reformed,
cleaned-up government of my utopian future that actually serves the
people).  I think it IS the job of government to regulate trade (even
the Constitution provides for this), provide a minimum safety net for
poor citizens (ie. a reformed welfare system, health care,
education), and to mediate disputes between parties in the public
sector (ie. environmental laws).  

	We could go back and forth on this all day (as I do with my
Libertarian friends).  In the spirit of free thinking, I will send my
electronic copy of the 1990 party platform to anybody who requests it
via email.  Read it.  Think about it and its implications for
yourself.  Arrive at your own conclusions.  I know I have.

>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<
> Andy Gallo   | gallo@asel.udel.edu  | U. of Delaware/Applied Sci & Eng Labs <
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<
>     "Odd things happen in even numbered years."  - Brit Hume, ABC News      <
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------<