From: robc@wicat (Rob Carlson)
Subject: Re: "New Right" Libertarians?
Summary: Mining Community 
Organization: Jostens Learning Corp
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 04:31:38 GMT

In article <1993Jan12.021600.536@pony.Ingres.COM> garrett@Ingres.COM (WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS) writes:
>In article <robc.16.0@wicat>, robc@wicat (Rob Carlson)                                    writes...

>>	How could there be only one employer in the area? Every person in 
>>the area is potentially an employer. They all need certain services and will 
>>hire others to do them. Companies don't grow on trees, they are created when 
>>a person is willing to pay another person for some good or service. You are 
>>always free to start your own company.
>
>Mr. Carlson, have you ever been in a REALLY small town? I grew up in a town
>where the only industries in 100 miles were a oar mine, and one lumber mill
>(the lumber mill has since closed). This was only 8 years ago that I lived 
>there.

	Actually I have. I'll spare you the gory details. How could there be 
a town with only two industries? Below you mention not one but two bars. I 
suspect there was also the usual complement of retail stores, liqour 
stores, doctors, etc.

	But lets take the case of a one business town. This business must 
get its supplies somewhere. And the people will need a whole host of 
services from mechanics (even horse and buggies), doctors, etc. A business 
is any action that another person is willing to pay you for. Are you saying 
that the people in this town paid no money to anyone for anything? Not even 
the upper management of the one company? Not even the owners of this 
company? 

	The small town (~1800 people) I lived in had people that brought you 
firewood. They made a deal with the lumber mill to haul it away and sold it 
to the other people. I heard, ad nauseam, (small town people will know what 
I mean) how old Bill started out dragging the scrap wood to town by tying it 
all up and dragging it. Eventually, he made enough money to buy a horse and 
buggy. Now he lives in the big house on the hill that was built for the 
foreman of the lumber-mill. The foreman is still a working stiff and can't 
afford the house anymore.

>	Can you imagine how it was in the Appalachians during the late
>1800's? Why do you think the miner's unions are some of the strongest and
>most militant in the country?

	I don't know but would be very interested in your thoughts on the 
subject.

>	As for starting your own company, that requires capital. In the 
>town I lived in, you were comsidered rich if you didn't have a tab at one
>of the two local bars (that may be funny, but it's true).

	There are plenty of businesses that require no capital. Ask any 
teanager that babysits on the weekends to save money for college.

>>	The only situation under which your scenario could be achieved is by 
>>force. Like some government making a law that says you may only work for 
>>that employer and cannot form any business of your own.
>
>Ever heard of company script? Under the Libertarian ideal, this could be
>legal. Ain't life a bitch.

	As long as its voluntary, what business is it of yours whether I 
take cash or script from my employer? I wouldn't accept script, though. It 
would lock me into a captive market. Though I have entered into barter 
arrangements. If script was the only payment the company gave, I have many 
choices:

	1. Work for a different company. All businesses are in competition 
	   for labor.

	2. Work for myself. Unless there are laws against it, there are 
	   unlimited ways to get money in exchange for goods and 
	   services.

	3. Organize as many of the employers as possible and change the way 
	   the company pays us. Big business needs labor as much as you need 
	   business.


Rob Carlson
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.politics.homosexuality