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From: david@fisher.UUCP (David Rubin)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Re: Euromissiles in Belgium
Message-ID: <520@fisher.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 6-Feb-85 11:36:12 EST
Article-I.D.: fisher.520
Posted: Wed Feb  6 11:36:12 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Feb-85 09:30:08 EST
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Organization: Princeton Univ. Statistics
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>	>(2) If the people desire something morally wrong, does the
>	>    national interest demand immorality?
>	>(3) If the people desire something patently stupid, does the
>	>    fulfillment of that desire advance the national interest?

>And who is going to decide whether or not something is morally wrong
>or patently stupid. Fortunately we don't have a dictator here to decide
>that for us. Is abortion morally wrong? A majority of people here don't
>think so. Is deploying cruise missiles in Europa patently stupid? Lots
>of people think so, yes, because it can threaten our very existence.
>So what is "national interest"? That's the interest of the *people*, not
>of those that happen to "rule" a country.
>-- 
>	Piet Beertema, CWI, Amsterdam
>	...{decvax,philabs}!mcvax!piet

I have no disagreement with you, except to note that the people often
misjudge their own interests.  Popular demand does not make a
position wise, just, or moral, it just makes it ... popular.  This
does not mean I advocate a "dictatorship".  It does mean I wish to
have power once removed from popular will (power to be exercised by
elected representatives answerable only to law, not public opinion,
during their tenure, at the end of which public opinion again makes it
effects felt).  To paraphrase Churchill, Democracy is the worst form
of government, except for all the others.  This accurately sums up my
attitude.

Who is to decide what is best? Why, the participants in net.politics
discussions, of course.  Here we are free from the constraints of both
the popular will and the corruption of power.  We can debate and
discuss the issues to our own content.  We need not adopt inferior
policies here because "the people demand it" or "it is necessary if we
are to rule".  Hopefully, arguments will stand and fall in our
electronic utopia on their MERIT rather than their POPULARITY.

					David Rubin
			{allegra|astrovax|princeton}!fisher!david