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From: sykora@csd2.UUCP (Michael Sykora)
Newsgroups: net.politics.theory
Subject: Re: Newsflash! [JoSH on Socialis
Message-ID: <4340015@csd2.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 14-Dec-85 17:46:00 EST
Article-I.D.: csd2.4340015
Posted: Sat Dec 14 17:46:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 16-Dec-85 19:33:07 EST
References: <266@meccts.UUCP>
Organization: New York University
Lines: 38

>/* franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams) / 11:42 pm  Dec 10, 1985 */

>I propose that it be handled by democratic political processes, as it is
>in the U.S., Europe, and Japan today.  With notable success, I might add.

You have not presented a solution, but rather described the means
which you (and probably most of the rest of us) would like to see used
to decide upon a solution.

As for "notable success," how do you measure such success?  Do you take
into account the cost effectiveness of the means that have been chosen,
as well as the oportunity cost of these measures?  How do you know
other means would not have been more successful?

>The problem with this solution for the libertarians is that it requires
>a powerful central government, with the ability to collect taxes.  I
>don't see any solutions which are compatible with libertarian ideas on
>government.
>
>(I do quibble with the details of how our government deals with the problem.
>Instead of regulations limiting the permitted pollutants, there should be
>>taxes on the amount of pollutants emitted, with an effort made to match
>the tax to the costs imposed on others thereby -- this is hard to do when
>health and life are at stake, but not impossible.  This would not diminish
>the need for a powerful central government.)

Libertarians are in favor of a government powerful enough to accomplish
its legitimate role, but no more powerful than that.  To speak of a
"powerful" central government without a reference point that we all
agree on is useless.

The above measures may be consistent with libertarian philosophy to a
significant extent.  Libertarians would probably not call these taxes,
but fines.

>Frank Adams                           ihpn4!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka

Michael Sykora