From: visser@convex.com (Lance Visser)
Subject: Re: Libertarianism: The Great Satan or NOT!
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 01:36:49 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In <1992Apr7.194050.11702@morrow.stanford.edu> GA.JRG@forsythe.stanford.edu (June Genis) writes:

+>In article <1992Apr7.092029.813@desire.wright.edu>,
+>demon@desire.wright.edu (Stupendous Man) writes:
+>>
+>>In <visser.702539448@convex.convex.com> visser@convex.com (Lance Visser) writes:
+>>
+>>>In <1992Apr4.085611.8063@eskimo.celestial.com> Corner.Core.Cafe writes:
+>>>+>     The Libertarian Party is America's third largest and fastest growing
+>>>+>political party. Libertarians believe "That government is best which governs
+>>>+>least." The party supports civil liberties, a free market economy, and a
+>>>+>non-interventionist foreign policy.
+>>>
+>>>       The party also supports the "right" of private discrimination in
+>>>employment, housing, and "service".
+>>
+>>        Untrue.

	ftp to think.com and read the platform for this year yourself.  Its
all there.  The party just does not tout its opposition to such laws
as much as other positions.

+>No, it's not untrue that we support the right of someone to
+>peacefully discriminate, however, it is untrue to say that we think
+>they should.

	OK.  They dont necessarily support segregation or businesses
refusing to serve people because of race, but they dont believe in 
doing anything to stop the practice.  I dont think that standing by
and allowing the good-old-days of race relations within the united
states is a sensable thing to propose. 
	The language used in the section of the party platform dealing
with this issue is very offensive.  They use the phrase "diminished 
human potential" to describe the effects of basic and very sensible civil rights
laws.  We are not talking about issues like affirmative action, we
are talking about businesses, such as resterants and hotels, refusing
to serve people.  
	When you support overturning such laws, it hardly matters what
a particular person thinks about segregation or discrimination because
you are re-enabling and legitimizing that behavior.  The goal does not
matter, its the inevitable and terrible consequenses do matter.
 







+>>>       They believe in repealing the various neutrality acts that prevent
+>>>corporations from forming and supporting armies aboard and overthrowing
+>>>governments abroad.
+>>
+>>        ??? I haven't seen this anywhere.  Indeed one the basic tenents of
+>>Libertarianism is non-intervention.

	Only by the government.  If you or your favorite big company 
wants to intervene, thats fine.

+>We believe that non-intervention is the appropriate position for
+>*government* to take.  But just as you have an absolute right to go
+>to the aid of someone being beaten up by the neighborhood bully if
+>you choose to, we think you should have an absolute right to go to
+>the aid of people being beaten up by Saddam Hussein.  We just don't
+>think the government should be able to comment everyone to doing
+>that, especially when he's not beating up on us in any direct way at
+>all.

	Or alternatly, certain corporations would be able to directly
and openly underwrite armed forces in their favorite dictators country.
"Joe" and his mercenary buddies could form an army in the united states
to conquer lets say Grenada.

	The libertarian concept of the government being "neutral" does not
have any chance of success if corporations and private groups are allowed
to intervene militarily from the united states in the affairs of other
countries.  The role of the US government then becomes basically a sheild
behind which various groups can hide.