From: Arlo J. Bensinger (ajb102@psu.edu)
Date: Mon Aug 01 2005 - 02:24:25 BST
Hi Platt,
Agree, no need to go over old ground. I was hoping we could make some headway
without it getting back to socialism/capitalism, but health care is a hot topic
issue in politics, so perhaps that was unavoidable. I do agree that many
"health care" services should not be provided via taxation, and I think the MOQ
would support this notion. But just like with providing public land, I think
that the MOQ does value life, and individuals as potential sources of evolution
would be protected. That is, even if this threatened static patterns of wealth.
Let me just end by saying that such "actions" I would hope to come from a
swell in the population and not from top-down government programs. People must
demand such a thing, they can't have it forced on them. And until they want it,
they don't deserve it. :-)
[Platt]
Finally, you agree that in an MOQ society that people would vote for life
saving services and I've conceded that if they did, that would be fine
with me. We've already agreed that an MOQ society would be democratic
while protecting individual rights. But I don't think one of my rights is
to put a gun to my neighbor's head to force him to pay for my pacemaker.
[Arlo]
In a MOQ society, your neighbor would gladly offer his support... because your
life would be of greater value than his stockpile of money. In my opinion, of
course. :-)
[Platt]
(We have agreed that government has a monopoly on legalized violence
haven't we?)
[Arlo]
Since government determines what is "legal" and what is not, I suppose that
makes this a given. Although... I was just watching a show on the History
Channel about silver mines in Colorado, back in the 1800s, when the miners
decided to unionize (to demand a change in working conditions and pay), and the
Something-something Silver Company sent in "strike-breakers" who attacked a
mining camp and slaughtered almost everyone, including women and children who
were fleeing the camp. The strike-busters were never prosecuted, and indeed had
the blessing of local law enforcement. So, I'm guessing there are times when
the government "outsources" its monopoly to private interests. At least, it has
happened.
Arlo
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