From: Evan Ravitz <evan@darkstar.cygnus.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 16:36:43 +0800
To: dnowch2@teleport.com
Subject: Re: DNow2 Re: Hammill 1987 speech
In-Reply-To: <199601080601.WAA09591@netcom4.netcom.com>
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.960108011704.6640P-100000@darkstar.cygnus.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain



On Sun, 7 Jan 1996, Vladimir Z. Nuri wrote:

> while I agree with the libertarian that there are many problems with
> governments, I see no reason to believe that libertarians are proposing
> a workable alternative, 
> 
> rabid libertarianism reminds me of Marxism: sounds great in theory, and
> you might even convince large parts of the population or key people in
> power to follow it. but does it truly present an implementable and workable
> alternative? where are the specifics?

Well put. And where is there a model that works? In Switzerland we have a 
model of 148 years of true democracy, where the people propose and vote 
on legislation. One result is that "pork-barrell" is mimimal, because 
citizens won't vote for it! Libertarians would generally prefer it to 
government by a parasitic ruling class. And libs could propose and 
perhaps pass laws to try out their ideas. 

Here you are limited to begging for mercy. Sure, theoretically, encrypted 
financial transactions on the 'net will inhibit taxation, but Congress 
seems likely to nip that in the bud, massive begging notwithstanding.

The 'net could be used for the interaction of true democracy (along with 
the more available Plain Old Telephone System, fax, paper, etc), as well
as for beggary.

The Swiss experience for 148 years is available for review from the very 
first link from our web site:

     Evan Ravitz, director,  VOTING BY PHONE FOUNDATION:  evanr@vote.org
    Electronic democracy! From the directors of the U.S. National Science 
   Foundation's 1974 Televote trials and Boulder's 1993 ballot initiative:
 http://www.vote.org/v  A FUTURE PASTURES PRESENTATION (303)440-6838 fon/fax 
"What government is best? That which teaches us to govern ourselves." -Goethe