From: liberty@gate.net (Jim Ray)
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 95 22:37:28 PST
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Political Cleanup program [NOISE]
Message-ID: <199512200638.BAA34608@osceola.gate.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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Phill <hallam@w3.org> wrote:

<snip>

>It is very strange the way that "Libertarians" are so able to turn all
>rights into property rights. Thus freedom of speech become freedom to have
>influence on the politicial process in direct proportion to wealth.

And what do you propose? Speech in proportion to ability to bitch???

<snip>

>When the Web becomes as ubiquitous as the telephone we 
>will still see inequalities of power, the homeless and the poor will still >be underrepresented.

Let me guess, somehow the government can cure this?

>But that situation must be judged against our own where the 
>political process can be bought and traded as if it were any other form of 
>comodity.
>
>It is not simply an issue of money, it is an issue of national security. If a 
>foreigner were to control the majority of the media there would be a significant 
>threat to the national interest. This threat has been realised in the UK with 
>the comming to power of Rupert Murdoch. Fortunately his influence on the US 
>political scene has thus far been minor. In his own country he has brought down 
>the government more than once.

So what??? He gives us "The Simpsons" and "Married, With Children!"
[IMO] Rupert has done more for humor than any humor-impaired liberal
has ever done!

>>And as far as "prevent the political process from being owned by the rich" 
>>goes, there have been brief exceptions over the last 5000 years in which
>>the less-rich have overthrown the rich, but campaign finance laws have >>almost never kept the rich or the politicians from helping each other out.

So??? I'm fighting them, are you???

>In UK politicis the influence of an individual's money is limited to influencing 
>one party. Even that is done behind closed doors. The other major parties both 
>limit the size of individual contributions to a constituency party to a 
>relatively nominal sum. $5000 is a huge sum in UK politics.

They probably bribe in accordance with the marketplace. Big deal.

>>I also don't believe freedom of speech should be limited by national 
>>boundaries.
>
>Nor do I. But I only vote in one country. If we take the question outside >the US 
>it would not on the whole be a good thing if the Prime Minister of Tobago (say) 
>were provided with a campaign contribution of $1M by a foreign company with >an 
>interest in strip mining the entire island. similarly it would be a bad >thing if 
>Columbian drug lords were to make massive contributions to politicians >committed 
>to continuing the prohibition on drugs.

They do, right now. Do you think the Libertarians have gotten any
contributions from the drug-smugglers??? If so, please tell me what you
are on and where I can get some. Otherwise, kwitcherbitchin.
JMR


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Regards, Jim Ray
http://www.shopmiami.com/prs/jimray
"Thank God we don't get all the government we pay for." -- Will Rogers
[Back when we paid for (and got) a  _lot_  less government.]
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