From: John.Emmert@f2.n373.z1.FIDONET.ORG (John Emmert)
Newsgroups: hsv.general
Subject: Comparison of Liberal, Conservative and Libertarian Views
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 92 15:54:29 CDT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:373/2 - Gateway, Huntsville AL

In a message of <Sep 30 19:09>, Lawrence Hughes (1:373/12) writes: 


 >SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE PRICE SUPPORTS AND OTHER SUBSIDIES TO 
 >FARMERS
 >AND REGULATE WHAT THEY GROW?

 >Liberal: Yes. Farmers need protection from low prices for their crops 
 >and 
 >         these farm programs help supply food to the poor and needy.

 >Conserv: Some support is needed so that family farms are not lost but 
 >in
 >         general, farm programs are too expensive and wasteful.

 >Lib'tar: No. No one in business is entitled to have the government 
 >force
 >         taxpayers to support him. Farmers should operate in a free, 
 >         competitive market, just as all others in business should.

In general I agree with you here.

 >SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT IMPOSE TARRIFS, QUOTAS, OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON
 >INTERNATIONAL TRADE, OR SHOULD WE HAVE FREE TRADE?

 >Liberal: Tariffs and quotas should be used to save American jobs.

 >Conserv: Trade barriers may be necessary to protect industries vital 
 >to
 >         national defense or keep American industry competitive.

 >Lib'tar: Trade barriers violate the rights of Americans and foreign 
 >people who
 >         desire to trade. Trade barriers cut everyone's productivity 
 >and cost
 >         more jobs than they save.

True, more or less in a simplistic view. Unfortunately, WE can't impose 
free trade unilaterally, since other counties make it a habit to subsidize 
vital industries. We should allow it whenever possible.

 >SHOULD GOVERNMENT SET A MINIMUM WAGE ENFORCED BY LAW?

 >Liberal: Yes. Otherwise, employers will exploit workers by paying only
 >         subsistence wages. Everyone is entitled to a decent wage.

 >Conserv: No. Employers should be able to hire the best employees they 
 >can get
 >         at the lowest price set by market competition.

 >Lib'tar: No. Such laws violate the right of employees and employers to 
 >strike
 >         their own deals. Economics and history show that minimum wage 
 >laws
 >         *cause* unemployment.

A minimum wage tied to the poverty index is not such a bad idea. People 
working and contributing to society should be allowed to believe that hard 
work and effort will at least earn them a minimum living. On the other 
hand, when they see they can make more by going on welfare.......

 >IS THERE SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG WITH TAXATION, WHICH ALL SEEM 
 >TO THINK
 >IS THE ONLY WAY TO PAY FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES?

 >Liberal: Without taxes, not enough people would be willing to pay for 
 >welfare
 >         for the poor, or education, or taking care of the 
 >environment, or so
 >         many other important things which only government can 
 >provide.

 >Conserv: Without taxes, not enough people would be willing to pay for 
 >America's
 >         and its allies' defense, or for our domestic security, or so 
 >many other
 >         important things only government can provide.

 >Lib'tar: Taxation is immoral, indistinguishable from theft. We should 
 >replace
 >         taxation with voluntary methods of providing services. All 
 >"government"
 >         services can be provided by private sector business, 
 >charities or other
 >         organizations and techniques.

These services (such as roads and schools) COULD be provided by private 
sector business. In reality, they never would be. Pie in the sky utopia is 
nice to dream about, however I'm afraid we'll have to settle for reality in 
this case. The average citizen should, however, expect to get something in 
return for his money. Taxes are arguably the fairest method for 
distributing the cost of necessary government to everyone. Obviously the 
tax laws need to be reformed, and the government needs to be made 
accountable for how our taxes are spent.

 >INFLATION IS A RECURRING PROBLEM, WHEN WE SEE PRICES RISING RAPIDLY. 
 >WHAT
 >SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO ABOUT IT?

 >Liberal: Impose wage and price controls on interest rates to keep big
 >         corporations and banks from gouging the public.

 >Conserv: The Federal Reserve Board should increase the money supply at 
 >a slow
 >         and steady rate and control interest rates also rather than 
 >allowing
 >         wide flucuations in either.

 >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 
 >government
 >         control of money by eliminating the Federal Reserve system 
 >and 
 >         repealing the legal tender laws.

And cause a world wide economic collapse that would make the depression of 
the 30's look tame by comparison. The easiest way to control inflation and 
interest rates to to force our government to stop living beyond it's means. 
A constitutional amendment forcing a nationwide referendum before we allow 
deficiet spending would be a start. A line item veto for the president is 
another idea whose time has come.





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