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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
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