From: J. Michael Diehl <mdiehl@triton.unm.edu>
Date: Sat, 16 Oct 93 22:20:18 PDT
To: chrome@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
Subject: Re: William Gibson
In-Reply-To: <Pine.3.05.9310161726.A6517-b100000@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu>
Message-ID: <9310170517.AA19826@triton.unm.edu>
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According to Alexander Reynolds:
> 
> > On the other-hand, you can also envision an anarchist future much like
> > Gibson's novells where everyone is a free agent and thus out for his
> > own good: capitalism.

I agree.  I was relieved to read a sci-fi which wasn't socialistic.


> 	It is only through theory that an pseudoanarchist capitalist State can
> exist, read Ayn Rand's _Atlas Shrugged_ and you'll see my point.  Gibson's
> futuristic view is not anarchy, it is multi-national oligarchy to an extreme.

I have to differ here.  These mutli-national (all-powerfull?) corporations were
held powerless by those with the technology to do so.  This is the essence of 
why I have developed strong computer skills; technology is power.  Power to 
protect yourself from many threats.

> His vision is far from anarchy, and his
> version of free-market libertarian economics should never be confused with the
> apolitical (antibehavior-control) aspects of anarchy. [also, I think that he
> isn't trying to make political or economic statements with his books, but
> that those details enhance the effect of his stories (just my opinion)] 

Well, I don't think mankind will ever shed all forms of behavioral control.  Man
has an inherent set of norms which I doubt he will shed, and remain civilized.

J. Michael Diehl   ;^)  |*The 2nd Amendment is there in case the 
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