X-Message-Number: 23082 Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 16:48:49 -0500 From: RANDY WICKER <> Subject: Libertarian Failure Re 23078 --Boundary_(ID_H78NULxXBsg/Tz9WlYwJsQ) Content-type: text/plain; charset=Windows-1252 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Libertarian failure is described by Mike Perry in 23078: >I also question whether a radical or "pure" form of >libertarianism would be the best system to advocate, in part because I >think human nature might not allow it to persist in such pure form. >As one possible case in point, I understand that some generations ago, in a >certain geographical locale, the government was very weak and the people >sensed a need to more or less set up a system of their own to maintain >order and such. At that point they could have opted for a highly >libertarian system, but instead what emerged was more of a feudal-type >system with patrons, clients, and brokers. If you were not powerful >yourself you allied yourself with someone who was, and in return for your >loyal and material support you would obtain protection and services. This exact same situation arose in Somalia after the United States withdrew in the 1990s. The general public fell prey to extortionists who charged them for safe passage on roads, for personal escort services etc. When the former warlord returned, he was greeted with wild celebration by the general public who wanted law and order restored at any price. The proof is in the pudding. Libertarianism is an attractive idea. I was a libertarian once. I took their test recently and found I was "borderline" between libertarian and liberal left. But libertarianism is no more workable than communism (another attractive idealistic idea). I wrote a letter to the Libertarian Party asking if they had taken a position on cryonics. I further suggested that if they had not taken such a position, they certainly should do so now. I have not heard from them. Now if everyone getting this letter would write a query to the Libertarian Party, it just might motivate them to act. They are not shy about unpopular positions. They support cloning and the legalization of drugs. Certainly, what you do with your body after death is just as important a right to privacy as either of the above. The web site is www.lp.org Randolfe Wicker Founder, Clone Rights United Front, www.clonerights.com Spokesperson, Reproductive Cloning Network, www.reproductivecloning.net Former CEO, Human Cloning Foundation, www.humancloning.org Member, The Immortality Institute, www.imminst.org 201-656-3280 (Mornings) --Boundary_(ID_H78NULxXBsg/Tz9WlYwJsQ) Content-type: text/html; charset=Windows-1252 [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=23082