Re: [Fwd: Grassroots Geeks on Stipends? or Money for Nothing?]

[Mitch Stone <mstone@vc.net>]

In reply to Declan McCullagh's message sent 4/22/98 2:09 PM:

>Again Mitch gets it wrong. Perhaps it's too much of that collectivist
>cultism? If libertarians are the hippies of the right, Mitch & gang must be
>the crackheads of the left.

Again? Are you lapsing into objectivist twaddle -- again? I was quoting 
Ayn Rand here. Verbatim. Besides, I wasn't aware I had a gang (though I 
suppose I could use one sometimes).

>Contrary to what he says, gvt activity is not defacto coercive, at least
>not in any objectionable way. Gvt should exist to protect us and our rights
>(think police) including our right to enter into agreement with others
>(think courts). I know a few libertarians who take Rand seriously, but the
>vast majority don't.

Again, I was taking issue with the belief system of Rand and followers, 
not assigning them to myself... never have before, don't see why I should 
start now.

>If Gates were a dedicated libertarian, he wouldn't be supporting the nasty
>criminal copyright law he championed. Cato was one of the few groups to
>speak out against that. Everything I see makes me think he's a liberal who
>talks free-market when it suits him and his company's bottom line.

Now, that's a debatable matter, though probably not of sufficient 
interest to warrant debate.

Declan, I realize your main purpose in participating on this list is 
exploring the subtle differences between objectivism and libertarianism, 
but you've got me volleying on both side of the court. Pitching and 
catching. Please, no more of this. It's too surreal.

   Mitch Stone
   Editor, Boycott Microsoft
   http://www.vcnet.com/bms 
 +---
   It is disappointing to see people back in Washington thinking
   that the PC industry is a bad thing. --- Bill Gates