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From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Re: What is "capitalism"?
Message-ID: <653@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Jun-85 09:44:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxl.653
Posted: Mon Jun 10 09:44:57 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 11-Jun-85 05:40:09 EDT
References: <2876@sdcc3.UUCP> <2380024@acf4.UUCP>, <286@spar.UUCP> <185@maxvax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany
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> []
> >> How can a relatively small number of people (i.e., the gov't.) know
> >> what's best for millions?  Moreover, how can anyone know what's best
> >> for anyone else?
> >>						Mike Sykora
> >
> >By the same logic, how can everyone know what's best for *themselves*?
> >
> >						Baba
> 
> That doesn't look like the same logic to me.  Since it does to you,
> it's evident that the real disagreement is metaphysical/ethical; namely,
> what is the "good"?  Clearly, if you don't think people can know what's
> good for themselves, your basic values have nothing to do with an
> individual's Pursuit of Happiness (not to mention Life and Liberty.)
> 
> 						W. F. Linke

I think Baba's point is precisely the opposite of what you claim: that 
people *indeed do * know what is best for themselves which is why they
have supported public education, pollution controls, publicly supported
transportation whether roads or other means, public safety measures,etc.
 
What people know is that they can only accomplish certain goals by working
*together*.  TO think that everybody can be an individualist island to
her/himself is not only unrealistic but a nightmare.
 
                               tim sevener  whuxl!orb