From: Rex.Beard@f32.n373.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Rex Beard)
Newsgroups: hsv.general
Subject: Re: Comparison of Liberal, Conservative and Libertarian Views
Date: Fri,  2 Oct 92 19:40:56 CDT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:373/32

 JE> From: John.Emmert@f2.n373.z1.FIDONET.ORG (John Emmert)
     
 >>SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT IMPOSE TARRIFS, QUOTAS, OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON
 >>INTERNATIONAL TRADE, OR SHOULD WE HAVE FREE TRADE?
     
 JE> True, more or less in a simplistic view. Unfortunately, WE 
 JE> can't impose free trade unilaterally, since other counties make 

Why not? It is not as good as free trade all around but it
is better than a trade restriction. Do you think it is good to have
free trade with countries who do something better than we do? Like
.... oh... Watches in Switzerland or something?

Just because the country who is competeing has a subsidy doesn't mean we
shouldn't trade. Trade restrictions always hurt both parties.

So because country A is hurting itself and us with trade barriers we should
*ADD* to that hurt by being stupid in turn?

 JE> it a habit to subsidize vital industries. We should allow it 
 JE> whenever possible. 

Say that Russia is our enemy. Do you think we should build cars for $10,000
a piece and sell those cars to them for $8,000 a piece? Huh? That is like
*giving* our cars away. It sounds like it *hurts* us and *helps* them!

When you go to the store and find that they are selling good chairs at a
dollar a pop, do you complain that they are cheating you? No you take
advantage of the windfall.

The Japanese CAN'T POSSIBLY subsidies EVERYTHING in the world! Let them
subsidies a widget and sell it to us. We can build something else and
sell it to them at a profit! Sounds pretty good to me. We get a cheap
widget AND we make turn a profit.

 >>SHOULD GOVERNMENT SET A MINIMUM WAGE ENFORCED BY LAW?
     
 JE> A minimum wage tied to the poverty index is not such a bad 
 JE> idea. People working and contributing to society should be 

Hong Kong has no minimum wage. They have full employment. Almost always
do. to them 5% unemployment would be a depression.

Minimum wage laws were enacted to keep Black men and women from taking
jobs from white folks. Before Min Wages were passed Blacks had LOWER
unemployment than whites in *every* category. Since minimum wage they 
have *NEVER* caught up. Go look at the propaganda of the time. White Union
men didn't want blacks taking their jobs.

 >>         services can be provided by private sector business, 
 >>charities or other
 >>         organizations and techniques.
     
 JE> These services (such as roads and schools) COULD be provided by 
 JE> private sector business. In reality, they never would be. Pie 

They are in some places. Look at it. They use to be provided that way.

 JE> in the sky utopia is nice to dream about, however I'm afraid 

Right. ANd government *can't* make utopia. No one can.

 JE> his money. Taxes are arguably the fairest method for 
 JE> distributing the cost of necessary government to everyone. 

Sure. I just say that what is necessary is a lot less. I think
the Federal government should only provide National Defense,
Police, Prisons, Courts.

States can do schools, roads, police, courts & prisons.

Local can do all of the above plus some charity.

When we get to that level, then I might look at what else can be cut.
we are no where near it.

     
 >>Lib'tar: We must stop the government money printing press. Return now 
 >>to a 
 >>         fully convertible gold standard for the dollar and ultimately
 >>         establish a stable, market-based monetary system to replace 
     
 JE> And cause a world wide economic collapse that would make the 
 JE> depression of the 30's look tame by comparison. The easiest way 

If we returned to the gold standard? I don't think so. We make our money
more stable and it causes panic? Doesn't sound right.
But I could care less if we go to the gold standard.

 JE> to control inflation and interest rates to to force our 
 JE> government to stop living beyond it's means. A constitutional 

Perfect reason to vote Libertarian.

 JE> amendment forcing a nationwide referendum before we allow 
 JE> deficiet spending would be a start. A line item veto for the 

Hmmm?

 JE> president is another idea whose time has come. 

Line Item Veto WILL NEVER help with the deficit. We need to cut
400 billion this year. I've seen proposals from Bush and others about the
Line item veto. The cuts proposed totaled less than 5 billion.
Sure those things needed cut, But they won't ballance the
budget. You've got to start cutting *REAL* things for that. The Democrats
and Republicans never mention real cuts. (LIke farm subsidies
or S. S.)

-rex-
Vote Libertarian in '92.


--  
 = Micro Magic, 830-2362,  Alabama's Usenet/Fidonet gateway.
 = Reply-To:  Rex.Beard@f32.n373.z1.FIDONET.ORG