From: werme@alliant.com (Ric Werme)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Libertarianism (was Who pays for schools?)
Date: 15 Apr 92 16:44:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: alliant.1992Apr15.164428.27753
Organization: Alliant Computer Systems Corp.

In article <703209622.F00001@blkcat.UUCP> Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
>Mike.Steiner@p1.f207.n143.z1.FIDONET.ORG writes:
>    That philosophy fails to take into account that whenever a member of
>    society is educated, the entire society benefits
>
> Exactly.  That is one of the major reasons why although I believe
> Libertarianism is the general direction the country needs to head in, I
> dread the day they hold major power... it would be a bleak one for
> education, ease of travel, utility customers, those in need of police
> protection, those whose houses happen to catch on fire for one reason
> or another (which would be more likely since they would not require
> that one's *neighbors'* houses are up to fire codes), etc. etc. etc.

There's a big difference between Libertarian ideals and what can be
achieved should we suddenly find ourselves in "power".  I suspect it
would take at least a generation to wean ourselves from Social Security and
pay off the national debt, to name a couple.

Some of the New Hampshire Libertarians (and non!) have been working to
establish a school voucher system where families that teach their kids at
home or send them to a private school are reimbursed something less than
the cost of teaching the kids in the government schools.  (Actually, it may
even be less than the school portion of their property tax.  I'm not too
familiar with the details.)

Another NH person here is teaching his kids at home.  The flack he gets from
the state is rather amazing, especially considering that K-12 education here
is nearly completely funded by the towns through property taxes.  (NH ranks
50th in terms of *state* aid to education.)  Paul claims that US literacy
was highest just before the invention of government schools.

> ease of travel,

More toll roads, perhaps.  The Maine turnpike was privately built and owned.
People are experimenting with automated toll collection equipment.  As long
as those records are kept private, it may be workable.  I also don't have
trouble with supporting roads through fuel taxes, but I do have trouble
with states like Massachusetts that transfer or borrow money from the
highway funds to cover other stuff.

> utility customers,

I see references to articles that cliam areas where there are multiple
cable TV companies have better and cheaper service.  We don't have cable
yet, but I've talked to people who have tried to get their local cable
turkeys to add NASA-Select without success.

> those in need of police
> protection,

There will still be police.  The Constitution does not grant the freedom
to impinge on other people's freedoms.  There will still be courts, in
fact I fear the court system may greatly expand....

> those whose houses happen to catch on fire for one reason

There are places with private fire departments.  I guess fairly common
in Montana.  I heard one story about a new house that burned to the ground
because the homeowner hadn't paid the fire fee yet.  There are kinks.  Our
volunteer fire dept. works quite well, that's a good compromise available
to small towns.

> or another (which would be more likely since they would not require
> that one's *neighbors'* houses are up to fire codes),

Ah, but the insurance companies could set the rates based on the degree
of fire proofing.  I would like to see more private entities like
Underwriter's Labs (setup by insurance companies) or Consumer Reports
(especially if you deleted their big governement protector stance).

> etc. etc. etc.

The biggest impediment to a Libertarian system is that we've lost the sense
of responsibility that comes when there are no safety nets.  You can't be
trusted to provided for your retirement, so we have social security.  (Which
doesn't provide for *your* retirement despite the SSA tracking your
"contributions" throughout your career.)  You can't be trusted to find a
new home should your coastal house be wiped out by a hurricane, so there's
Federal Flood Insurance.  You don't have to seek out an education for your
kids so that they'll be ready to leave home - the schools will do everything
they can to get them.

The Libertarian Party likes to quote Thomas Jefferson and several of the
other founding fathers who knew abuse of power from government centers
not in touch with their subjects.  That governement is best that governs least.
-- 
| A pride of lions               | Eric J Werme                   |
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