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From: plunkett@rlgvax.UUCP (S. Plunkett)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Libertarian position on certain 'laws'
Message-ID: <26@rlgvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 1-Aug-84 10:49:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: rlgvax.26
Posted: Wed Aug  1 10:49:04 1984
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[]

A Libertarian taking his creed too seriously responds thusly
to T.C. Wheeler's list of typical regulations and local ordinances
that are pretty commonplace these days: (I condense to make the point)

> >1.  A regulation which prohibits the use of an unvented kerosene
> >    stove in an apartment or house.
>
> ..you could sue someone for operation of a kerosene stove..
> ..None of your business unless you can convice a court..
>
> >4.  A regulation which prohibits you from taking clams from designated
> >    waters.
>
> ..you can sue me..
>
> >5.  A rule which prohibts you from using your front or back yard
> >    to store junk automobiles.
>
> ..then [neighbors] have the right to sue you.
>
> >7.  A law which prohibits door-to-door salesmen unless they have
> >    a license from the town.
>
> ..I can shoot him..
>
> >9.  A law that prohibits the use of fireworks.
>
> ..I could get a restraining order, sue, etc.
>
--

And so it goes.  The Libertarian solution to permanent government
regulation is: the court, or in the cases where a court cannot be
accessed quickly, a gun.

In the Libertarian Society everyone, therefore, will be a lawyer,
(those unfortunate few failing the bar exam will take up gun
dealerships), courts of law will be more common-place than post-boxes,
and judgeships will be deemed the most boring job on earth ("Oh
no! This is the fiftieth kerosene lamp case today! And it's only
10 A.M.!").

But I don't want to offend the Libertarian enthusiast: Your theories
are interesting, and you are no doubt a great influence to counter
the lunatics to the left.  But that's all; don't ever think that
a Libertarian Society would ever work in practice.  It would be
as big a failure as Bolshevism.
-- 
Scott Plunkett,
..{umcp-cs,allegra,seismo}!rlgvax!plunkett