From: PA146008@utkvm1.utk.edu  (David Veal)
Subject: Re: school choice (Was: Is this a socialist country?)
Organization: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 05:22:09 GMT

In article <1992Aug15.174653.1433@mksol.dseg.ti.com>
mccall@mksol.dseg.ti.com (fred j mccall 575-3539) writes:

>
>In article <1992Aug12.235629.11339@mumbo.apple.com> wilkes@apple.com (John Wilks) writes:
>>In article <1992Aug12.173409.20184@mksol.dseg.ti.com>, mccall@mksol.dseg.ti.co (fred j mccall 575-3539) writes:
>>> In article <veal.196@utkux1.utk.edu> veal@utkux1.utk.edu (David L. Veal) wries:
>>> >In article <1992Aug10.165705.23891@mksol.dseg.ti.com> mccall@mksol.dseg.ti.om (fred j mccall 575-3539) writes:
>>> >>In article <1992Aug10.014900.1240@access.digex.com> steve-b@access.digex.cm (Steve Brinich) writes:
>>> >
>>> >>>  You, of course, have the right not to answer that question.  Others, of
>>> >>>course, have the right to draw what conclusions they will from that refusl.
>>> >>>
>>> >
>>> >>The question asked about what *I* do with *MY* money.  Being a
>>> >>libertarian, you have already demonstrated that you are a hypocrite by
>>> >>asking it.
>>> >
>>> >     Why?  Nobody is forcing you to respond.
>>>
>>> Because as a libertarian, what *I* do isn't germane and is my affair.
>>> Implying otherwise is hypocritical for a libertarian.
>>
>>And whose definition of libertarianism would that be?
>>
>>Libertarians believe that you should be free to do as you please, so long as
>>you do not infringe on the right of others to do as they please.  This does
>>not imply that a lack of curiousity is required.  Asking you how you spend
>>your money does not infringe on your right to do as you please.
>
>However, attempting to impute that what I do with my money is somehow
>'meaningful' to the original discussion seems to be pretty
>hypocritical for a libertarian to do, wouldn't you say?
>
     Not particularly.  How you use your money may very well be germaine
to the discussion.  Which is probably why somebody asked you about it in
the first place.  Because I don't want you to be forced to do things against
your will with your own money does not mean that I must studiously ignore
what you do, nor in any way condone what you do.  Libertarianism has nothing
to do with inquiries and such.

     You misunderstand libertarianism.  Because libertarians don't want the
government to force people to use their money and assets in ways those
people don't want to does not mean the libertarians don't care *how* they
are used or that they approve of those uses.  It means simply they don't want
people to be forced to do what they don't want to.

     After all this nonsense I'm at least curious on the subject.  As for
answering the question, my curiosity does not bear either way on your
response.  You may answer or not as you see fit.


>>If you are interested in learning more about libertarianism, I can recommend
>>some good books to get you started.
>
>I already know more than enough about libertarian philosophy.

     Not if you think asking a question alone is non-libertarian you
don't.

>  You
>shouldn't assume that because someone finds it simplistic and
>inadequate that their attitude is the result of ignorance.  Perhaps I
>should suggest a much better grounding in real economic theory for
>libertarians, instead?
>
     I heard a quote from Andre Marrou a couple of weeks ago to the effect
that when people start calling your position sophomoric you know you've
hit the big time.

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| David Veal  PA146008@utkvm1.utk.edu                                  |
|             University of Tennessee Division of Continuing Education |
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