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From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Problems with libertaria: imagination, RE to nrh
Message-ID: <651@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Jun-85 11:01:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxl.651
Posted: Wed Jun  5 11:01:31 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Jun-85 21:32:42 EDT
References: <408@mmintl.UUCP> <28200013@inmet.UUCP>
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> >/**** inmet:net.politics.t / mmintl!robg / 10:24 am  May 23, 1985 ****/
> 
> In a libertarian Germany, it would not be hard to imagine that the
> Black Forest was owned by a bunch of nature lovers who sued the 
> CLASS of automobile owners (and polluters in general) through
> a court system that permitted this.  There are also non-anarchic
> solutions (minimal government might concern itself 
> exclusively with preventing its own growth and with economic
> externalities).  
> 
 
Ah, the imagination of Libertarians can truly be said to solve all problems
can't it?  Certainly it is easy to *imagine* a capitalist economy in
which all sorts of wonderful things happen: companies voluntarily decide
to install pollution equipment at great cost and even though such costs
make them less competitive in the market.(assuming such market is "free"
to begin with), companies compete to help and educate the poor at their
own cost,............ad imaginitum.......
One can *imagine* anything you wish.
I could *imagine* a truly communist society in which all are equal.
But reality is another thing.
In reality if it weren't for the Federal Government in Germany there probably
wouldn't *be* any Black Forest left because it would be developed by 
companies out to make a buck, and nature be damned.  We saw this sort of
thing happening under the esteemed Mr. Watt in our own country when he
started an enormous "fire sale" on mining and timber rights in our
National Forests.
The oil companies haven't seemed too concerned that Watt's oil leases might
lead to more oil spills like the one at Santa Barbara which killed
scads of wildlife.
And where is the capitalistic concern for the acid rain in our own country
which is occurring right now?  Reagan has announced another "study" of
the problem - maybe if Reagan studies it hard enough it will disappear.
Maybe if I think hard enough I can pull a rabbit out of my terminal......

Let's talk about reality for a moment: what are Libertarians doing at
this very moment to stop acid rain?  Are you filing class action suits
against polluters?  Or what?
 
                  tim sevener   whuxl!orb