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From: christensen@apollo.uucp (Wendy Christensen)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Rand and Responsibility
Message-ID: <2aafa81e.a51@apollo.uucp>
Date: Thu, 12-Dec-85 15:49:46 EST
Article-I.D.: apollo.2aafa81e.a51
Posted: Thu Dec 12 15:49:46 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 13-Dec-85 21:00:22 EST
Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, Mass.
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I have been looking in on this "real-libertarianism vs. brain-damage-libertarianism
vs socialism vs ..." discussion for a while now. What surprises and disturbs me is
that I have seen no reference, even from the libertarians (who ought to know better)
of responsibility. I see lots of talk about freedom, liberty, property rights, reason
vs. force, but no mention of the necessary balancing agent, responsibility. Many of
the straw men (for that is what they are, at bottom) set up by the statists and
socialists could be much more effectively demolished with intelligent reference to
and use of responsibility. Responsibility is basic throughout Rand's work, and I
find it astounding that this aspect of her philosophy has not entered into these
discussions. Perhaps some of the more irresponsible "Randroids" only want to claim the
easy parts? I would like to see explanations for this strange omission. Anyone 
willing to take up this challenge?

w. christensen
I am responsible for the opinions expressed above.