Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 6/7/83; site hao.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!bmcg!cepu!hao!ward From: ward@hao.UUCP Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: What is a libertarian? Message-ID: <1093@hao.UUCP> Date: Thu, 2-Aug-84 13:40:46 EDT Article-I.D.: hao.1093 Posted: Thu Aug 2 13:40:46 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 3-Aug-84 05:22:40 EDT References: <355@tellab1.UUCP> Organization: High Altitude Obs./NCAR, Boulder CO Lines: 25 [] > Oh, please forgive me for my ignorance, but could someone please mail me > a definition of 'libertarian'? I looked in the dictionary and found: > > 1. A person who believes in the doctrine of the free will. > 2. A person who advocates full civil liberties. > > This is so vague to me that I can't imagine anyone labeling themselves > one based solely on the above definition. This is not only vaque, it is inaccurate. Every Libertarian I know considers property "rights" (the right to use or abuse anything you "own") to rank above all other rights. This of course restricts civil liberties to those who are strong enough or devious enough (or, maybe even smart enough) to wrest "ownership" (as defined by whom?) away from others. The vast majority of humanity would have no liberty at all, except the liberty to starve. -- Michael Ward, NCAR/SCD UUCP: {hplabs,nbires,brl-bmd,seismo,menlo70,stcvax}!hao!sa!ward ARPA: hplabs!hao!sa!ward@Berkeley BELL: 303-497-1252 USPS: POB 3000, Boulder, CO 80307