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From: nrh@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Freedom and ownership
Message-ID: <28200329@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 24-Nov-85 10:30:00 EST
Article-I.D.: inmet.28200329
Posted: Sun Nov 24 10:30:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 29-Nov-85 22:13:10 EST
References: <1111@mtuxo.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:mtuxo:-111100:inmet:28200329:000:1568
Nf-From: inmet!nrh    Nov 24 10:30:00 1985


> [Richard Carnes gives the example of Running Dog, an American Indian
>  who, migrating with his tribe across America, decides to claim some
>  land in the Libertarian fashion (claiming and using it).  The tribal
>  elders don't buy it.  Who is right and why?]

Richard:  Running Dog, assuming he's done everything right
(staked out the land, worked it, made sure that any other claims
to the land are vacated) is right, regardless of what the tribal elders 
think.

If, for example, the tribal elders arrange a raid on 
another bunch of Indians for the purposes of glory, are they "right"?

If they torture their prisoners, as some Indians did, is that "right"?

You see, the question of who's "right" depends upon (and no doubt there
are better terms for this) the moral framework in which an act and
its motives are examined.  Were I to inhabit the People's Republic of China,
I might be beaten to death if I tried to organize an independent political
party.  Would this be "right", even though THAT set of tribal elders
sanctioned it?

In short, who's "right" will depend on who you ask.   One of the reasons
why it's important that people be able to talk to each other -- so that
the best arguments can circulate widely.

For those who believe in an absolute morality, please note that I'm 
speaking here of who's "right", that is, who is SAID to be right,
not who's "really right".

By the way, Richard, if the Indian TRIBE in your example claims the
same land, do they have the right to it, even if other tribes later
come by and want to steal all the produce?