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From: stanwyck@ihlpa.UUCP (Don Stanwyck)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Example of libertarianism in action (standards groups)
Message-ID: <119@ihlpa.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Feb-85 14:26:16 EST
Article-I.D.: ihlpa.119
Posted: Mon Feb 18 14:26:16 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Feb-85 03:21:47 EST
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> Another overlooked example of Libertarianism is:  Standards Committees.
> Independent businesses and other interested parties coming together to agree
> on standards for their industry -- *because it is benificial for all to do so,
> and those who don't care don't participate*.
> Gordon A. Moffett		...!{ihnp4,hplabs,sun}!amdahl!gam

As one who has been and is continuing to be involved with standards groups, I
assure you that one reason some don't participate is that a) standards work
moves too slowly, b) standards work costs too much to participate in, and c)
the resulting standards, based on political compromise rather than technical
merit, often are difficult if not impossible to implement, or simply are the
least common denominator of the involved parties capabilities.

If this is an example of Libertarianism at work, may it never become the
standard operation of government - though it is, I suppose, no worse than
what we have.