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From: sykora@csd2.UUCP (Michael Sykora)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Politics and Ethics--Socialism, Libertarianism, and Capitalism
Message-ID: <4340011@csd2.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 13-Dec-85 22:17:00 EST
Article-I.D.: csd2.4340011
Posted: Fri Dec 13 22:17:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 16-Dec-85 19:26:32 EST
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Organization: New York University
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>/* lkk@teddy.UUCP /  4:48 pm  Dec 11, 1985 */

>Certainly raw materials (minerals, wood) are neccessary for
>production.  Who created them?

I wouldn't include these in my definition of "means" of production.
In any case, however, it is important to distinguish between raw materials
in a state of nature versus raw materials that have been removed from
nature (e.g., minerals embedded in the earth vs. minerals that have been
mined).

>We can't produce things without food, which is grown in the land.  Who
>created the land? 

Since no one created the land, the question of whop should own it obviously
cannot be answered by recourse to the question, "who created it?", but perhaps
we should consider who enhanced it?

We produce things in factories.  Who created them?  The owners?  All
by themselves?

If people create things by themselves, they should have the right to do with
them as they wish, including transferring ownership rights.  The owners
purchased the factory or purchased the services of those who created the 
factory, and are therefore entitled to do with it as they wish.

>Larry Kolodney     (INTERNET) lkk@mit-mc.arpa

Michael Sykora