From: Kenneth.E.Harker@dartmouth.edu (Kenneth E. Harker)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.elections
Subject: Re: NH Primary & LP
Date: 14 Apr 92 19:34:26 GMT
 <1992Apr2.230708.23961@midway.uchicago.edu> 
 <PMETZGER.92Apr3111622@snark.shearson.com> 
 <1992Apr7.211632.11030@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>  
 <PMETZGER.92Apr8110923@snark.shearson.com>
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

In article <PMETZGER.92Apr8110923@snark.shearson.com>
pmetzger@snark.shearson.com (Perry E. Metzger) writes:

> In article <1992Apr7.211632.11030@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> kyrie@coos.dartmouth.edu (Thomas S. Marlowe) writes:
> 
>    And what happens when the Libertarian Party comes to Dartmouth
>    College (NH) and Marrou tells some very excited Libertarians (and
>    some people who were just interested in learning more) that it
>    would be a good idea if we encouraged nuclear proliferation so that
>    if every country had a nuclear weapon, we would be a lot safer (the
>    argument being that it would create a true stalemate if Libya,
>    Iran, Iraq, etc.  had nuclear weapons and the other argument being
>    that it is not fair for only the superpowers to have NUKES.)
> 
> I've never heard any libertarian espousing such things. Are you sure
> you are quoting him accurately?
> 
> So far as I can tell, by a careful search of the party's platform
> contains no such section.

     Thomas asked me to respond to this since I was one of the five
students (only four undergraduates) who showed up to hear Marrou (in a
room with 150 seats!)  In fact, this whole concept was brought up by my
question on how the Libertarians felt about nuclear proliferation.  He
never outright claimed to advocate the position of allowing every
country the "right" to own nuclear weapons, but he started off like
this, "It's an interesting idea...."  He went on at length about the
perceived benefits of allowing every nation to have nuclear weapons. 
He never mentioned any other stance on the nuclear issue.  He never
quoted from the party platform on any issue.  A few days later, we had
a great debate in Dartmouth.Politics about the concept of private
citizens having the "right" to own nuclear weapons (provided the
citizen is held responsible for his/her own actions, of course...) 
Makes one's head swim.  So does Marrou.
     Of course, he may have just been rambling with so few of us there.
 That same week, Jim Lennane, a Republican presidential candidate
(anybody outside of NH ever heard of him?) spoke to more than six times
as many students, which must have been more than a little  disturbing
for Marrou.  In fact, it occured to me halfway through his speech that
he hadn't yet asked me to vote for him.  All he seemed to want to talk
about was how fast his little party was growing.  He never did actually
ask us to vote for him.  Of course, it wouldn't have helped...

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          Ken Harker             "And there's bound to be rough waters
Official Chimney Sweep of the     And I know I'll take some falls
  Romantic Fire Association       But with the good Lord as my captain
Kenneth.E.Harker@Dartmouth.Edu    I can make it through them all..."
       Vote GOP in 1992!                   -Victoria Shaw, Garth Brooks
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Newsgroups: alt.politics.elections