From: pjs269@tijc02.uucp (Paul Schmidt)
Subject: Re: taxes, theft, police, etc.
Organization: Advocates for Self-Government - Davy Crockett Chapter
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 92 15:16:10 GMT

mjones@fenway.aix.kingston.ibm.com (Mike Jones) writes:
: 
: Read your history. This is one of the major reasons why money was
: established. Governments were established, in part, to give legitimacy to
: the money (i.e., some expectation that if you took the money in exchange for
: goods, you would in turn be able to exchange it for other goods).

I want to be able to trust the money that I use to have value.
Governments have generally taken over the money supply with the
rationalization of making money more legitimate.  In many countries the
opposite has happened.  One temptation is for a government to print fiat
money to cover their debts.  This has resulted in hyper-inflation.  The
great depression of the 1930s happened after the U.S. government removed
the dollar from the gold standard.  This depression was about twice as
deep and twice as long than any previous depression.  Government control
of the monetary system will not lead to more security, but less
security.

: Yeah, so what's your point? The US government isn't perfect. In some cases,
: like the War on Drugs, it's bordering on dangerous. In libertopia, of
: course, there would never be any crime, no injustice, no pollution. Right,
: and the Queen of England is a drug dealer.

From "Libertarianism in One Lesson," by David Bergland:

   This is probably the fallacy most frequently encountered in political
   discussions.  "Utopia" refers to a perfect society, a mythical place
   where everyone has everything they want all the time and nothing ever
   goes wrong.  There has never been such a place and never will be on this
   earth.  That doesn't stop the opponents of freedom from holding Utopia
   up as a standard.  They will contend that freedom does not guarantee
   that everyone will be able to achieve anything they want; some will be
   disappointed or frustrated and there will still be murderers, thieves,
   rapists and other criminals.  Because freedom does not guarantee Utopia,
   they argue, it should be rejected.

   It is true:  no advocate of freedom can guarantee Utopia.

   So what?

   No advocate of any political view can guarantee Utopia.

   UTOPIA IS NOT ONE OF THE OPTIONS.  It is simply not available.  Let's
   be practical, examine what's available and choose the best.

:   
: > > GW: elect someone who'll vote the way you want. 
: >We can't; you won't let us put him on the ballot! 
: 
: Is this the hysterical you or the ideological you? Last I saw, Marrou was on
: the ballot in a bunch of states. Besides, what is it about so many
: Libertarians that seems to make them unable to field candidates for
: positions other than President? If Libertarianism is such a good deal, why
: can't we have a demonstration of it in a couple of cities, or a state?

This is happening in New Hampshire.  One democrat was frustrated and
said there were "hundred of Libertarians" running.  (The actual
number is closer to 100.)  In Dixville Notch, NH, the Libertarian 
candidate, Andre Marrou beat all the other candidates.  This was not a 
protest vote, the voters, who had been shown the libertarian position, 
decided for themselves that the libertarian candidate offered the best 
solution for our country.  Several state representatives in NH switched 
to the Libertarian Party.  Libertarianism has been demonstrated in the 
city - Dixville Notch - and the growing numbers and strength of the
Libertarian Party in NH. This demonstrates that people are starting to
believe that libertarianism is a "good deal."
: 
:    Mike Jones  |  AIX/ESA Development  |  mjones@donald.aix.kingston.ibm.com
: 
: Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle, and mutilate.
-- 
Paul Schmidt: Advocates for Self-Government, Davy Crockett Chapter President
706 Judith Drive, Johnson City, TN 37604, (615)283-0084, uunet!tijc02!pjs269
"Freedom seems to have unleashed the  creative energies of the people -- and
leads to ever higher levels of income and social progress."  --  U.N. report