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From: stewart@ihldt.UUCP (R. J. Stewart)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Libertarianism
Message-ID: <2620@ihldt.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 27-Nov-84 07:43:28 EST
Article-I.D.: ihldt.2620
Posted: Tue Nov 27 07:43:28 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Nov-84 03:10:54 EST
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Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
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>> Don't confuse "society" (which is a function of human interaction) with
>> "government" which is an attempt to dominate society.

> A good analogy would be: the government is to society as the skeleton
> is to the body. It provides security and order, and makes it easier for
> social interactions to occur. ... At the very least the government
> provides security from foreign agression, which could never be
> provided in an anarchistic society.
> 
>	Wayne

The second quote is apparently meant to be an argument against
libertarianism, but could just as easily have been said by a
libertarian.  Remember, LIBERTARIANISM IS NOT ANARCHY.  Libertarians
support a strong national defense and an effective police force.

To extend the analogy, the role of the skeleton is well-defined and
limited.  You would be in trouble if your skeleton started to attempt to
take over the functions of your heart and brain.  In the same way,
the duty of the government is to protect people from aggression by other
people, not to redistribute their incomes and restrict their business
transactions.

Bob Stewart
ihldt!stewart