H. Ross Perot: He's Selling. -M-Yl-~-2----~-1.5-,N-O.-6-----~.-ooWho'sBu~ng?

.!IJJlllll,111. ~ill fYThe !Mountain :Nymph) sweet Liberty. "-Jolin !MiCton Mint State Franklin Halves Only $59 per Roll! Benjamin Franklin half dollars saved that they will never be are among the most heavily scarce!) sought of ~ll U.S. silver coins, • The Franklin half dollar was and for good reason: the largest silver coin ofits • The Franklin halfdollar was era, and the lowest mintage the last type U.S. half dollar type coin during the years it whose entire series was issued of was issued. high purity, 900/0 silver alloy. As future collectors seek to • Because ofits high silver con­ complete their collections, the tent, substantial quantities of Franklin halfwill be the most Franklin halves were melted desirable and difficult type coin during the great meltdown of to obtain. Its large size, low 1980, when the silver value of mintage and attractive design a single Franklin halfwas more guarantee it a future as a numis­ than $18.00. Huge quantities Enlarged to show detail. matic treasure. ofsilver coins were sold by the The quality of these rolls of public to dealers, who melted Franklin halves is outstanding: them for their silver content Every coin is an original Mint without regard to rarity or nu­ State specimen. Many are MS­ mismatic value. 63 or better! Thanks to a fortu- • Fewer Franklin halfdollars were Eagle. The Liberty Bell was chosen nate purchase, we are able to offer origi- minted during their entire 25 year because Franklin was so closely identi- nal mint rolls of Franklin half dollars at history than Kennedy halves in 1964 fied with the American Revolution. the remarkably low price ofonly $59. and 1965 alone! More than 7 times as • The reverse design ofthe Franklin is That's less than $3 a coin! many Kennedy halves have been is- unique in another way as well: The Act Quickly! We will hold these sued than Franklin halves. Liberty Bell design was adapted from prices so long as our supplies last, but • Fewer Franklin half dollars were is- the Sesquicentennial com- our supply is limited. Because ofthe low sued than Walking Liberty halfdol- memorative halfdollar, issued in price and superb quality of these coins, lars, the type that preceded it. In fact, 1926. The Franklin halfis the only there is a good chance that we will sell in terms of total mintage, the Frank-- design ofa regular issue U.S. coin out. Orders will be filled on a first come, lin half is the scarcest regular issue adapted from a commemorative coin. first served basis, so don't delay. U.S. half dollar since the Barber half, • The Franklin half dollar was discon- To Reserve Your Purchase call us Toll minted from 1892 to 19161 tinued in 1963 before the silver Free at (800) 321-1542. (Michigan resi- • The Franklin halfdollar is the only reg- hoarding of 1964 began, so it is likely dents call (800) 933-4720.) Or return ular issue U.S. halfdollar ever without fewer were saved. (Many experts be- the coupon below with your check or the reverse design dominated by an lieve so many Kennedy halves were money order. r------,I Please send me the original Mint State rolls ofFranklin half dollars that I have selected below. I understand that they I I Yes' are mvered by Liberty Coin Service's ironclad guarantee covering all rare mins: I may return them within 15 days of I • receipt for a full refund. I I Rolls of20 Coins (1-4 rolls) @ $65 each = _

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4 Letters Liberty's readers have a lot on their minds. 7 Reflections Liberty's editors expose condoms, hoses, Elvis, abortion, marijuana, Andre Marrou, and duplicitous advertising Down Under. Features 13 The L.A. Riots The beating of Rodney King, the jury's verdict, the violent aftermath, and the talk, talk, talk. But what does it all mean? Our editors explain, explain, explain. 25 The Anti-Politics ofH. Ross Perot Chester Alan Arthur takes a look at why H. Ross Perot has such popular appeal, and why the Republicans, Democrats and pundits underestimate him. 28 Remembering Roy Childs George H. Smith eulogizes the late libertarian theorist, promoter, and raconteur. 29 Serve the Children Well Stuart Reges looks at what happens when a Christian Scientist couple refuses to seek medical treatment for their child. 33 Irreconcilable Differences? Libertarians and conservative Christians are usually considered mortal enemies. Doug Bandow sets the terms for a truce - and the groundwork for cooperation. 38 The Myth of Metal Illness To some, heavy metal is a sign of social decline; to others, it is harmless party music. Gracie & Zarkov say it can be both. The difference: individual freedom - and responsibility. 41 At Long Last, Death David Horowitz defends the death penalty, and celebrates the execution of Robert Alton Harris. 43 Returning Roads and Bridges to the Market Privatizing roads and bridges isn't just a good idea: it's already happening around the world. Terree Wasley reports. 48 The "Lock" on the Electoral College There is a flaw in the way we elect our presidents. David Brin has an idea for reform. Reviews 51 Just Discrimination Richard Epstein's new book argues that anti-discrimination laws should be repealed. Is he right? James Taggart weighs the evidence. 54 Another Road to Liberty? Leland B. Yeager and David Kelley review Liberty and Nature, Douglas Rasmussen's and Douglas Den Uyl's attempt to reform Ayn Rand's politics with a liberal dose of Aristotle. 60 How Not to Help the Homeless Brian Doherty argues that big government is not the kind of government the homeless need. 61 God and Man at Bay? Timothy Virkkala examines the theological personae of visionary historian Robert Nelson. 65 Are Humans Alien? James S. Robbins watches The Discovery Channel, and is shocked to discover that he is an alien. 66 Booknotes on the mystery of mysteries, the enigma of Zen anarchism, and the riddle of John Locke. And the nature of multiculturalism is shown to be not in the least bit puzzling - compared to Elvis, anyway. 67 Classified Ads 69 Notes on Contributors 70 Terra Incognita pro~::~992 [ Letters J] books. In a system of private ._======~ rather than more rules, you'd get more dif- - ferences between the rules - in other Balph Eubank Redux pected to win. No MCC-ism here, either. words, more diversity, rather than the in­ creasingly homogenized system of rules It is fascinating to me to witness the 3) But during WWII, the Czechs were we have now imposed by the federal gov­ glee with which Timothy Virkkala re­ conspicuous by the absence of active ernment. peatedly rails against Ayn Rand (liThe guerrilla warfare. Yes, they sabotaged Even the relatively limited differences Ego and Her Own," May 1992). I sup­ where they could, and they regularly between the states in the U.S. now pro­ pose this makes him feel wonderful, defied the death penalty by listening to vides some choices for improving person­ the BBC and by whispering anti-Nazi something he may not be able to do al freedom. Durk Pearson and I recently jokes in each others' ears; but they had al­ based on achievements such as writing moved from California to Nevada (at con­ most no active guerrilla groups like, say, very well received novels, having his siderable cost) and escaped much higher the Danes, who were fewer in number ideas studied by many critics and sup­ taxes and spirit-destroying regulations in and had no forest-clad mountains in porters, and having made some rather Los Angeles/ California. Then there are which to hide. interesting observations about various differences between counties, cities, and What caused the abrupt change? philosophical topics. As I see it, that is towns in each state. There are differences II The 1935 Munich agreement, when when someone eagerly plunges into" between large companies and even great­ the West sold out the Czechs to appease put-downs of others who have done a er differences between large and small whole lot more that is meaningful and Hitler. The MCC was born on September companies. The greater the number ofsepar­ useful than oneself. 3D, 1938: defeat is only a relatively short­ ate entities and the freer they are to set their Just exactly why editor R. W. Brad­ lived trauma; but betrayal will corrupt a own local rules, the more chance you'll find ford believes it is vital to open his pages nation's soul for a long time. what you want. Therefore, private property to such petty derisiveness is a bit of a This lesson seems to be lost on many, rights increase your chances for finding puzzle. IfI edited a magazine - indeed, notably on libertarians: they love liberty freedom, even ifyou don't own any prop­ when I did edit Reason for a while and (don't we all?), yet many of them are erty yourself. since I have been editing Reason Papers lukewarm, and some downright hostile, Sandy Shaw -I would find better use of my precious to defending it by armed resistance. Privacy, Nevada space than have some pipsqueak, with Petr Beckmann nothing notable accomplished, indulge Boulder, Colo. Rational Mediocrity his vile sentiments. Richard Kostelanetz seems a bit disin­ Free to Choose genuous when he asks (in his May review Tibor Machan Among the Rules Auburn, Ala. of the Missouri Review anthology) why In answer to R.K. Lamb's "Challenge: aspiring fiction writers try so hard to be A Little Betrayal Why I Won't Live in Disco Bay" (May undistingUished. There was much truth in the article by 1992): Of course, private property rights They try to be undistinguished be­ Frank Fox (''Little Czech Man," May mean that many people's rules for the cause that will get them into print. All 1992), but some of it was shallow. The use of their property will differ from publications, even the most avant-garde, Czechs are acutely aware of the abun­ what R.K. Lamb (or anybody else except have decision rules and will only accept dance of MCCs ("small-minded petty the owner) might prefer. The difference what slithers through the filter. Writers Czech") among them, for they are a close - and it's a big one - between the rules who submit stories to university literary second to the Jews in telling self-effacing of private property owners and the rules magazines have, in fact, done their home­ jokes about themselves. But it was not of government-controlled property is work: obtained and studied sample cop­ the Communists who invented the MCC. that there is a very large number of pri­ ies of the tedious periodicals in which (Why is the fraction of such creatures vate property owners and, therefore, a they hope to be published; taken courses smaller among the Poles or Russians?) whole lot of different ideas about rules at the dismal institutions which publish Consider three items of history. governing the use of private property. said magazines; and participated in sti­ 1) In WWI, some 100,000 Czech sol­ Hence, it is a lot more likely that R.K. fling writer's groups where their manu­ diers of the Austro-Hungarian army de­ Lamb (or anybody else) will find a work­ scripts are nit-picked to death by the com­ serted and took up arms in units at­ place or community with rules he/she petition. tached to the French, Italians and can live with in the private than in the Russians, knowing very well that if tak­ public sector. Of course, the huge en prisoner by the Austrians, they were amount of government regulation of pri­ summarily executed by being hung from vate property rights has reduced the va­ the nearest tree. No MCC-ism here. riety in workplaces and communities that 2) In a unanimity of determination there would otherwise be. that I was privileged to see only on one Lamb thinks that, in a world of pri­ other occasion (Britain, 1940-41), the vate property, you'd get more rules, not Czechs stood ready and even eager to fewer. Lamb is wrong. In the U.S., there take on Hitler's armies in 1938, and with are now hundreds ofmillions of govern­ France's treaty-mandated help, they ex- ment laws, rules, and regulations on the 4 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

The only possible outcome is the Klein tells us that "the feelings ex­ As for Rorty's enthusiasm for "irony" numb mediocrity so well demonstrated pressed by each political philosophy as an antidote to cruelty and arrogance, by the opening sentences quoted in the originate and operate in culture." IfI the greatest philosophical ironist of them article. (And to those who will surely were to undertake a cultural analysis of all was Socrates, who used his irony to complain about Mr Kostelanetz unfairly Klein's own antifoundationalist attitude, puncture the relativistic sophisms of his lifting these sentences "out of context," I I might attribute it to his being a mem­ contemporaries, and who saw a commit­ say they are perfectly in context. Iffic­ ber of the rootless post-baby-boom ment to absolute standards of Truth and tion writers cannot engage readers in the "Generation X" culture personified by Justice as the proper guarantor of intellec­ first sentence, draw them in, compel Wayne and Garth. Never mind philo­ tual humility and a due concern for the them to keep reading, they have failed.) sophical"validity./I Party on! Dan may rights of others. Unfortunately for readers, the work have a more flattering description of Roderick T. Long of writers who do have idiosyncratic himself, but, as he notes, "neither de­ Chapel Hill, N.C. voices and unusual visions of the world scription, nor any other, has a privi­ Failures All and let their fiction reflect those gifts is leged, metacultural status." I'm pretty Prof. Loren Lomasky finds the Liber­ in short supply, if not in terms of pro­ sure I don't have to worry about offend­ tarian Party "doubly irrelevant" ("One duction, then certainly in terms of ing him too much. As he tells us, "the nonvote for Bill Clinton," May 1992). He pragmatist is never very grave about his distribution. Kathleen AR. ogers finds that the novelty of a third party message." Hull, Mass. Lawrence H. White "has worn off," and that the LP is an "in­ Athens, Ga. creasingly embarrassing device" because Generation X of "ragtag" candidates who don't have With a nod to Richard Rorty, my Rorty is Old Hat the professional experience or character friend Dan Klein ("Irony, Cruelty, and To sing the praises of Richard Rorty to be credible to the voters. No longer a Liberty," May 1992) now describes him­ as offering a fresh new perspective in vehicle for"drafting and advancing ideas self as a "pragmatist libertarian." Klein's philosophy is a bit like hailing the Flat that embrace liberty," the LP has been pragmatism inspires him to tell other li­ Earth theory as a fresh new perspective passed by in favor of classical liberal bertarians how they should argue (they in geography. There is nothing innova­ think tanks, libertarians in policy roles should abandon"essentialist or founda­ tive about Rorty's stale relativism; it is within the Republican Party, and journals tionalist" philosophy in favor of "the Simply the latest incarnation of a dreary, - such as Liberty - that exhibit "icono­ stuff of the social sciences"). This is odd. outdated sophistical fallacy that was re­ clastic vigor." I would have thought that Klein, like futed by Democritus and Plato 2,500 There is no need to be so smug about Don McCloskey (another libertarian years ago - and every subsequent ver­ the "failure" of the LP to advance candi­ economist who draws on Rorty), would sion of it has been refuted a hundred dates who are credible to the voters. decry the pretension of laying down me­ times over by more recent philosophers. There is more than enough blame to go thodological rules that narrow the range There is no point in spending any more around. To the national media, our of permissible discourse - especially time on it. It is Rorty's theories, not vaunted think tanks are rinky-dink in rules for disciplines other than his own. those of his opponents, that represent comparison to AEI, Heritage, Brookings. By Klein's own account "the pragmatist "philosophical dead weight." The best and brightest libertarian minds doesn't claim to have a droplet of Truth It is true that libertarian philosophers labor in tank-town colleges and universi­ in his working paper." Yet he supposes have not always offered adequate de­ ties known more for their basketball that "pragmatism has taught us" some fenses of their theories, but this is a sign, prowess than their scholarship, and cer­ truth about how libertarians should not that they need to throw in the towel tainly not as prestigious centers of learn­ make their case. and abandon reality, but that they need ing. Why don't we see them being inter­ Klein refers to foundational concepts to be more rigorous, and to take advan­ viewed by Bryant and Katie whenever (like natural rights, self-ownership, and tage of recent progress by academic major issues break? Has the intelligentsia consent) as "philosophical dead weight." practitioners of the science of philoso­ ever heard of our publications? Yet he goes on to affirm individual choice phy. In the last thirty years, contempo­ For some reason, the libertarian move­ as his own foundationaI concept. He rary analytic philosophy has undergone ment - academic, literary, and political claims neither to have nor to need any a major transformation, shedding its po­ - has failed to click with the opinion justification for valuing individual sitivist baggage and forging ahead into a makers. Is it any wonder that, with the choice. But he does explain Gustify in a revolutionary period of truly exciting opinion makers still on the side of the le­ way) whyhe engages in libertarian politi­ and pathbreaking work (some"essen­ viathan state, the LP has found rough go­ cal discourse: "winning is good, but most tialist," some not) on the foundations of ing in attracting more than a smattering of the fun lies in playing the game./I This, metaphysics, epistemology, and ethics. of average Americans? apparently, is the nub ofpragmatist liber­ In the face of this invigorating explosion Aside from Milton Friedman, I'm tarianism: we should entertain libertarian of genuine philosophical progress, to fol­ hard-pressed to identify any libertarian ideas (or let them entertain us) notoutof low Daniel Klein in trumpeting Rorty's the national media would find credible. concern for truth or justice, butjustfor tired pragmatism as the path to philo­ We need Lomasky and the other libertari­ the hell ofit. Doing so is "fun." Klein's sophical salvation is tantamount to en­ an intellectuals to do a better job ofdefin­ most damning criticism ofnatural rights thusiastically casting horoscopes in the ing and explaining liberty, so that people theorists is that they are "bores." shadow of a particle accelerator. who are already "credible" will abandon Liberty 5 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992 their current beliefs and "convert." If his own deep-seated fear of risking per­ True Supporter these academics had done a better job, sonal affront, insult, ridicule, and other I am always pleased to vote for the Li­ perhaps the Jack Kemps, Bill Bradleys, unpleasantries that invariably await bertarian presidential candidate, and Ross Perots, Lee laccocas, Libby Doles those of us who carrythe colors to a thank God I have the chance to vote for and Ted Turners would be fire­ skeptical electorate. People who spend the person and the platform that most breathing, world-beating libertarians virtually all oftheir time in ivory towers closely match what I believe. Few Ameri­ instead of "credible" but still statist alter­ far from the din of the battle don't seem cans can truthfully make that claim. natives to the gang in Washington. to be able to comprehend the type of ef­ Loren Lomasky's diatribe against the Anyone in contact with the LP knows fort and commitment that it takes to con­ party was especially disheartening. Lo­ that any given cross-section will produce tinually get up in front ofa crowd ofliv­ masky would rather pooh-pooh the LP people far more intelligent and conver­ ing, breathing voters. To say that people and read The National Enquirer in his ivo­ sant on current issues than a similar like us·are becoming more "peripheral" ry tower. Ifpeople like him would get off cross-section of the major parties. Any­ is an insult that would not be thrown at their duffs and help find candidates who one who has run a race for the LP knows could be taken "more seriously," maybe just how mediocre and mendacious their us from one of our own. Oops, I forgot. opponents are. And even when the most He's a WI. In his ivory tower, he doesn't the pjrty would enjoy greater electoral credible candidate is clearly the Libertar­ smell the smoke, feel the pain, or see the success. Until then, I'll continue support­ ian, the third party label can be a killer casualties. He simply sits back and pon­ ing the nominee. I take him more serious­ because the electorate is conditioned to tificates at his leisure in his tax-funded, ly than I do Bush, Clinton, or H. Ross accept only major party candidates as fur-lined bubble. He says we aren't ef­ Mussolini. credible. fective in advancing liberty-enhancing R. Kidwell The LP wants better candidates. LP ideas. Baton Rouge, La. leaders have actively sought out such Well, Prof. Lomasky, as I write, Dr The Jig Is Up people, only to be turned down. Yes, the Dean Edel, a national talk show host, is With all the Libertarian Party bashing novelty of the third party has worn off. heaping praise on LP vice-presidential that Liberty has carried lately, it is a won­ But it can still provide a viable soapbox candidate Dr Nancy Lord for decrying der that they still advertise in the LP for popularizing the ideas of the profes­ the futility of the drug war. Andre Mar­ News! Or is that Liberty's plan all along: to sors, the think tanks, and the publica­ rou's brilliant campaign in Dixville spread doubt among new LP members ­ tions. Let's all pull together to better Notch, New Hampshire, resulted in to eat the child the libertarian movement reach the intelligentsia, the opinion mold­ many millions of dollars' worth of pub­ has spawned? ers, the students, and the voters instead licity for the entire Libertarian philoso­ Mark Sulkowski of pointing fingers and sniggering about phy. Katie Curic actually read the defini­ Buffalo, N.Y. the failures of one or the other segments tion ofLibertarian to Willard Scott on of the movement. The Place to Argue the Tockly show! And here in Blaine David K. Walter I appreciate your publishing the an­ County, Idaho, home of world-famous West Chester, Penn. gry letters from those cancelling their Sun Valley, Bald Mountain, and Ezra subscriptions, mainly because they're so Salesman in the Mud Pound, I have the privilege of being the funny. I am a libertarian candidate for I'm writing in response to the essay first and the second Libertarian to act U.S. House in Texas (one of the roughly in the "Politics" section of the May '92 is­ "as a vehicle for drafting and advancing 90 Libertarian candidates on the Texan sue of Liberty by one of your distin­ ideas that enchance human liberty" by ballot in 1992), but I certainly don't mind guished Welfare Intellectual (WI) con­ conducting increasingly effective cam­ seeing opinions critical of the Libertarian tributors, Prof. Loren E. Lomasky. While paigns for public office. Before me, no Party. I would much rather see us work I am thoroughly disgusted with the one had ever heard of privatizing roads, smug, self-important, and pompous atti­ out our problems in a publication with a nor had anyone ever considered that tax­ tude of leech crafters such as Prof. Loma­ 990/0 Libertarian readership than any­ ation might entail certain moral dilem­ sky, it is not his WI tendency that has where else. mas. I am in this battle for the duration, raised my hackles in this case.The major My Liberty subscription has been and I intend to see liberty win. irritation is the glib manner in which he money well spent. The articles on the en­ I urge Prof. Lomasky to consider en­ appears to treat the Libertarian Political vironmental damage caused by govern­ Party and the manner in which he de­ hancing his own perspective by getting ment ownership of resources here and in grades the few men and women who are his shoes muddy in the trenches with the ex-Soviet Union are especially valu­ the "II-Bravos" in the perpetual struggle the real leaders of this movement. Ifhe able. I always refer college students to for liberty. doesn't feel up to the challenge, might Liberty, along with the Cato Joumal and Lomasky's nonchalant slurs do the he refrain from flipping oblique insults Reason, as a source of serious contempo­ cause of freedom a serious disservice. I at the grunts who do the dirty work? rary libertarian thought. am a veteran of two "peripheral vehicle" Unless this product is sold, nothing will Keep up the good work; who knows, campaigns and am currently gearing up happen. And frankly, Prof. Lomasky maybe Liberty will be the beginning of a for my third. I am firmly convinced that ain't no salesman. new publishing empire. Lomasky'scavalier attitude towards Joseph A. Rohner III William H. Walker those of us in the trenches is rooted in Blaine County, Idaho Balch Springs, Tex. 6 Liberty Support Bill Clinton, but don't vote for tomers how lucky they are to have no alternative suppliers. This is one of the minor pieces of information 1 have him - Slick Willy Clinton's egregious remark about ex­ picked up while temporarily living Down Under. Australia perimenting with marijuana but never inhaling is the equiva­ Telecom enjoys a monopoly over the country's phone ser­ lent of saying: 1 experimented with whiskey but 1 never vice. Folks realize that such is not the case everywhere and, swallowed. 1 experimented with kissing but 1 never touched apparently, some suspect that the situation isn't exactly fair lips. 1 experimented with the piano but I never touched the dinkum. In an effort to reassure uneasy Aussies, Telecom re­ keys. I experimented with driving but I never started the en­ peatedly broadcasts a TV commercial exhibiting life in gine. 1 experimented with reading but 1 never looked at any America. Its message: too much choice! letters. The plot, briefly, is this. A man who looks as if he could We should now say that we experimented with the Clinton candidacy, but never cast a vote for him. What an be the twin brother of L.A. Law's Stuart Markowitz walks into a diner and is overwhelmed by an endless cascade of menu a******! (I experimented with epithets but never said one aloud.) -KH options. Scrambled eggs, poached eggs, eggs over easy, eggs over not-so-easy ... by the time the waitress finishes listing Bank on it - The House check-bouncing episode is a them all it's too late for breakfast. But then the lunch alterna­ scandal all right, though not in the way most people imagine. tives prove to be just as numerous and just as intimidating. It is pretty plain that some members took advantage of the "America has more freedom of choice than a hungry man can House Bank to get interest-free loans by writing checks handle," intones the smug narrator. against funds that were not in fact in their accounts. But so The real point of the promo becomes clear when the hap­ what? Wouldn't you do the same if your bank would allow less and still-hungry American goes to a phone booth - pre­ it? What's the crime here? sumably to place an emergency call to Meals-on-Wheels ­ Not one cent of public money was ever at risk. The inter­ and stares distractedly at the instrument before him. The ob­ est-free loans that some members enjoyed were at the ex­ noxious narratorial voice reemerges to inform us that the pense of other members, who held funds on account without poor bloke may be involved with up to three phone compa­ receiving interest. nies before being able to commence his conversation. The On top of that, it appears that many check bouncers were moral: "America's dream is Australia's reality." innocent victims of the incredibly bad management of the During my two months here I have become exceptionally bank: some members made deposits that just "laid around" fond of Australia and things Australian, so I hope this piece the bank for days and even weeks before being credited to of propaganda meets the fate it richly deserves. Here's how their accounts, during which time the depositors felt it rea­ you can help. The commercial's epilogue announces that a sonable that they could write checks against the funds. five-minute call to any site in Australia can be placed for no Rep. Tom Foley, the Democratic cacique, announced that more than $2.75. So send an Australian a copy of your latest the "scandal" was over the day the list of bouncers was re­ phone bill. And maybe a copy of your cable TV listings, too; leased. I suppose he meant that since no public money was that's another choice from which the government protects its ever at risk and many if not most of the bouncers were inno­ citizens. - LEL cent victims of the bizarrely incompetent management of the bank that the public should stop worrying about it. Marxism, mark two - Whatever happened to Foley is as wrong as he can be. Think about it. Just who is Marxism? Wisely, it has adapted to the current world envi­ in charge of the House Bank? Who set its policies, hired its ronment by making a few little changes. Such as getting a managers, and watched approvingly as it paid bad checks, new name -"cultural studies" - and dropping a few of its failed to credit deposits, and otherwise operated in a less features from the days before it stopped having a power base businesslike basis than the bank operated by the kids in Miss anywhere but the American academy. Johnson's fourth grade class? Who is responsible for its Michael Berube put it this way, in a long, celebratory re­ operations? view of the revived movement published in the April 1992 The House itself, through its elected leadership, that's Voice Literary Supplement: "though cultural studies' chief in­ who. This is exactly the same group of 435 knaves, con men, tellectual tradition is Marxism, it is an idiosyncratic, undoc­ morons, and clowns that is running the country. -RWB trinaire, practical British Marxism.... The current Marxism of cultural studies, it turns out, is a Marxism that stopped be­ Tele-phoneys - Why advertise if you're a business lieving in historical ineVitability long before the Wall came with no competition? One reason is: to persuade your cus- down; it is a Marxism that denies the primacy or unity of Liberty 7 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

'class' (and emphasizes the relevance of race, gender, sexuali­ "gender outlook," since the expellee was of a gender and ob­ ty, subjectivity), no longer believes in the centrality of Europe, viously had an outlook. Ironically, the expelled student, al­ no longer believes that the base 'determines' the superstruc­ though a hated male, was said to be trying his damnedest to ture, that the ruling class owns the ruling ideas, that class have a feminist outlook. struggle is inevitable, or that ideology is just 'false There used to be places where females could flock to­ consciousness.III gether without male intrusion. They were called nunneries. In short, it is just another of the fads we must endure so Welcome, Stanford, to the Middle Ages! - KH that the tenured can sing their own tunes to their captive au­ diences. - KH Operation criminal rescue - Having lost my only two children to abortion, I obViously have mixed feel­ When Elvis really ruled the waves ­ ings about it, as I suppose must almost everyone else. Would-be political wits of the world, be trendy: compare the Abortion seems to me one of those issues where both sides presidential election to the Elvis stamp vote. Thrust your hip are right and thus have good reason to be righteous. forward, Presley-style, and say, "Hey-hey. I bet more people Precisely for that reason, a pluralistic society, in contrast to a are voting for the Elvis stamp than are voting for president. theocratic or totalitarian one, should have no laws on the Heh heh heh." No one will remind you that seventy thousand issue. others have already made the same joke, in one form or My principal objection to anti-abortion activists is that I another. think them dupes. Consider this question: Were abortion to For the record, I refused to vote for either stamp. Honorific be made illegal again, who would the principal beneficiaries postage stamps are not supposed to be issued until the person be? Obviously, "doctors" who lost their licenses through so honored is deceased, and the King's vitality status is still malpractice or were never licensed at all, as well as those un­ indeterminate. With Elvis sightings now being reported from derworld types predisposed to deliver illegal services, Estonia, I find it very easy to believe that Ie roi does indeed which is to say gangsters. Indeed, were I either of these live on, incognito, busily rooting out the last vestiges of kinds of people, I would be working overtime agitating International Communism. Corne November, we may have among anti-abortion dupes. I'm old enough to remember yet another chance to vote for him, as the running mate of what kinds of people women had to deal· with before abor­ Texas businessman H. Ross Perot. tion became legal, and they weren't the sort most of us Remember: in our nation's direst hour, the King will re­ would normally invite into our homes. The truth familiar to turn. Just as it would be improper to put Jesus Christ or King libertarians is that whenever the state makes illegal some­ Arthur on a stamp, the image of Elvis must remain sacred. thing that some people desperately want, the result is a slea­ Boycott the Post Office. Keep the faith. - JW zy black market. A secondary result is the imprisonment, at state expense of course, of otherwise law-abiding people. Susan Krieger, a lecturer at Solidarity forever! - Abortion is in this respect no different from alcohol or recre­ Stanford University's politically correct graduate course on ational drugs. feminist methodology in the school of education, recently Isn't it time to remind righteous people who want the ejected a male student from her course. Krieger said that the state to make abortion illegal that the principal beneficiaries expellee "was not sufficiently committed to a gender outlook of your success will be criminals, and the principal chumps on social reality." She could not, of course, mean a taxpayers who subsidize the prisons? Whose side are you on? - RK Loons at the helm - Washing­ ton, D.C., loon capital of the land, will be­ gin making condoms available to students at all 16 of the city government's high schools beginning in the fall. Author of the dramatic plan, designed to fight an AIDS epidemic said to be spreading faster in Washington than in any other city, is the town's mayor, Sharon Pratt Kelly. She doesn't stop with school­ kids, either; inmates in all of the city's prisons and jails will also get to take part in the plan. Here's the loony part. It seems that the inmates of our capital city's jails and prisons will not only be able to get condoms (and confidential AIDS tests). They will also get punished, if they are caught breaking the law that forbids them from haVing sex. And so The Ship of State careens on () its way, left hands at the helm perfectly unaware of what the ~ right hands are doing. - KH y. ~ ~ What conspiracy? - Inspired by a Washington Post story describing "secret" Soviet subsidies to Communist Aft"· M' '"E. .g III 8 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992 parties around the world, including in the United States, the ennial Stalinist explanation for poor crops: insufficient rain. Detroit News gloated, "as the files [in the old Soviet archives] But the real reason for the shortage is the same as the rea­ open up, it's turning out that some of the things the 'para­ sons for the Soviets' sorry record of crop failures: central plan­ noid' right was saying - that the Rosenbergs were guilty, ning fails to meet consumer expectations because it lacks the that the KGB was a nasty organization, that Moscow was ac­ information prOVided by markets. In the case of Seattle, the tively funding groups like the CPUSA - were true." city has not increased the capacity of its water system since Is this the best the old Cold Warriors can do? The 1964, despite the fact that the market over which it has a legal % Rosenbergs were guilty - and the United States sponsored monopoly has increased approximately 53 • spies in the USSR, too. The KGB was a nasty organization ­ By and large, people are accepting the water department's and so were (and are) the CIA and FBI. The USSR funded explanation and supporting its policies. Seattle television sta­ client parties around the world - and the American govern­ tions report that patriotic citizens have been turning in neigh­ ment did the same, funneling money to anti-Communist po­ bors spotted letting their children run through sprinklers on litical parties of all ideological colors, in the industrialized hot days or otherwise "wasting" water. West as well as the less developed nations. Part of this enthusiasm for mandatory conservation comes Sorry, folks. Cold War revisionism still stands. - JW from the general eco-idiocy that has plagued local people. It is Drop that hose! Come out with your compounded by the usual guilt of both left-liberals and tradi­ tional American puritans who condemn all enjoyments not hands up! - In Seattle these days, you can be arrested linked to self-denial. and fined for washing your car or watering your lawn. The The notion that it is possible to waste water is, from an ec­ reason? The city has enacted strict restrictions on water con­ ological perspective, idiotic. Water consumed ends up in ex­ sumption, with fines of as much as $500 for using water in actly the same place as water that is not consumed: either ways the city in its wisdom does not approve, and tripling soaking into the ground, flowing into the ocean, or evaporat­ the price of water. To put teeth in the law, it has assigned ing into the air. In any case, it is recycled by nature. "several dozen" cops to enforce it. Nevertheless, sales of barrels made from recycled plastic I suspect this seems rather strange to those living away for catching rain are reported to be sharply up. Unhappily, from the Pacific Northwestern Ecotopia. The most common Seattle averages only 3.4 inches of rain during the summer. If characteristic of Seattle in most people's mind is that "it rains the catchment system is 100% efficient (Le. has no leakage and all the time." This image is not totally accurate: although there is no evaporation) and every drop of rain that falls on Seattle gets substantially more rain than most places, its the roof of a typical house is gathered into rain barrels this summers tend to be rather dry. More to the point, Seattle lies will yield only 700 gallons per month - enough to water an area about 16 feet square. This is to be achieved at a cost of about $160. Buying the same water from the city, even after Just as Seattle officials reacted to the shortage the city tripled the price, would cost about $11. All this sug­ by enacting Stalinist-style restrictions on con­ gests that those hopped up on eco-idiocy and puritanical left­ liberal guilt have managed to accomplish the impossible: they sumption, so they explain the cause of the short­ have discovered a way to invest even less efficiently than cen­ age by echoing the perennial Stalinist tral planners do. -RWB explanation for poor crops: insufficient rain. Educational simulacra - Too often, people who spend all their time in school start to mistake it for the real world. The measure of how well one can read, count, or at the base of the Cascade mountains, which receive more think becomes, not the ability to do these things when it real­ than 100 inches of precipitation each year, mostly in the form ly matters, but the ability to do a mock-up of these activities of snow, which conveniently accumulates all winter and on a test. melts all summer, resulting in many huge rivers flowing into Despite several decades of radical critiques of schooling Puget Sound. In sum, Seattle is perhaps the best-watered along these lines, children who prefer to ignore the required large city in America, so blessed with abundant water that reading in favor of a more advanced book they prefer, or to when the Chamber of Commerce held a contest to determine fool around with a complicated computer program instead of a new city nickname to attract tourists, the "Emerald City" doing simple math homework, or to play basketball very won hands down. skillfully with their friends but goof off during gym, are rare­ Just how "Emerald" Seattle will remain seems dubious. It ly encouraged and often punished. They have lots of "poten­ is now illegal to water one's lawn, and the watering of gar­ tial," but, unfortunately, will not get with the program. dens is only allowed, according to the Seattle Times, when But the really odd thing to observe are the educators who the leaves turn dull, droop, or the color turns from green to have listened to schooling's radical critics. Unable to fake the brown. real world, they try instead to build a mock-up of the individ­ Why is Seattle so low on water that it must enact such se­ ualsoul. vere restrictions? Just as Seattle officials reacted to the short­ So students are now taught "self-esteem" in the schools. age by enacting Stalinist-style restrictions on consumption, No longer will they be senselessly belittled; now, everyone so they explain the cause of the shortage by echoing the per- will be told in no uncertain terms that he is a unique, special Liberty 9 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992 individual with unique, special qualities. They will all learn necessary for the internal growth and fulfillment of the giver their unique, special qualities from a standardized self­ himself and for his own emancipation from fear and esteem curriculum, written by social scientists who have insecurity." done all the research on just what unique, special qualities Now let's see: there you were, going about your business, should be encouraged at each age. maybe even thinking about a post-graduation job working Students who prefer to develop their self-esteem through for (ugh) money, when what you really need for a secure, useful work or self-directed study will of course run afoul of fear-free future is to put yourself into the yoke that Justice the law. How dare they explore their real individuality in the Mahomed holds out to you privileged children of a rotten so­ real world, acquiring a real education in the process? Don't ciety so that you can work for (slave for?) those who demand they like our simulations? The old model of schooling could at least claim that, for all its faults, it was teaching most (some?) people to read and write. Calls for demonopolizing education could be met with No wonder Penn is called an Ivy League worried warnings that the market could not provide children school. It has some sort of vegetation for its with this sort of education. The claim would be wrong, but brain cells. would at least contain an air of plausibility. But the new model of schooling has no such defense. Can anyone honest­ ly claim that no one would develop self-love and self-respect without school? I don't know anybody who learned self­ and deserve the service of your otherwise hopelessly selfish esteem in the classroom, though I know quite a few who had minds. it beaten out of them there. Not to be outdone by a visitor to his campus, Penn's With both compulsory conservatism and compUlsory lib­ President Sheldon Hackney said that the graduates should eralism failing in different schools around the country, it "reject rugged individualism and embrace a sense of collec­ might finally be possible to give voluntarism a try. - JW tive responsibility for the nation's social ills." No wonder this is called an Ivy League school. It has Guides for the perplexed - Ellsworth Toohey, some sort of vegetation for its brain cells. Incidentally, the the scrofulous, sacrifice-preaching villain of Ayn Rand's The 5,000 graduating students greeted the whiny weirdness with Fountainhead, is alive and well in the person of South African applause, thus giving an indication of just how much they Supreme Court Justice Ismail Mahomed - the first black had learned about what during their privileged years at African to serve on the court. Penn. -KH Speaking at the recent commencement exercises of the University of Pennsylvania, Justice Mahomed referred to Better late than never - "No law, varying the America's "institutional racism" in saying "let us be brutally compensation for the services of the Senators and frank, what you have done to restore the integrity of your do­ Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of mestic soul and to unite divisions of your own nation is not Representatives shall have intervened." good enough." Apparently, it is an unsolved mystery why so So reads the twenty-seventh amendment to the U.S. many immigrants, legal and illegal, of all racesi are voting Constitution, which became the law of the land on May 4, with their feet to come to this oppressive land. when the legislature of Michigan became the 38th state to That aside, Justice Mahomed and his host offered a way ratify it. It is a small but sensible move toward a less irre­ that the graduating class, as privileged members of society, sponsible Congress. could make it up to the less privileged. They must "use their What's interesting about the amendment is its history. minds in the service of humanity." They must do this "not Congress approved it and sent it to the states for ratification simply because the victims of injustice are entitled to demand in 1789, as the second of twelve amendments proposed to justice from us, but because the expression of such love is correct Widely perceived flaws in the Constitution. Ten of those amendments (numbers 3-12) were ratified, and came to be known as the Bill of Rights. The pay raise amendment was ratified by six of the 13 states dUring the follOWing three years, but no other states ratified it during the next 82 years. In 1873, Ohio ratified. Then passed another 105 years before Wyoming ratified it in 1978. Eight states down, thirty to go! During the past 15 years, it picked up steam, averag­ ing two ratifications each year until Michigan put it over the top. This naturally aroused my curiousity. The pay raise limit was the second of the twelve amendments approved by Congress, leaving only one, the first, still pending. What was that other amendment? Maybe something mandating a balanced budget, outlawing peacetime armies, or some oth­ er delightful limitation on government power? It took me a half-hour's rooting through my library to learn the answer: 10 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992 a limit on the number of members of the House of someone not terribly well-known. Representatives. - RWB There is probably another reason that Perot won't chose Tsongas: Tsongas has already been selected by Clinton as his John Dentinger, 1952-1992 - Readers of running mate in a secret deal. The evidence for this is circum­ Liberty probably remember John Dentinger as a man passion­ stantial, but powerful. ately interested in the health of the libertarian movement, as Consider the situation before the New York primary. the author of one of the most controversial articles that ever Coming into New York, Clinton was in serious trouble. graced our pages: a stem reminder of the risks of libertarians Media reports of his character flaws were hurting him badly, becoming too closely identified with conservatives. But John and many Democrats were convinced that "anyone but Dentinger's interests were much wider than the movement. Clinton" would make a good candidate. Jerry Brown's cam­ He presented libertarian ideas to an extremely wide audience paign was gaining momentum. Tsongas had dropped out of as a writer for Playboy magazine and as an extremely prolific the race for lack of funds. There was a good chance the anti­ author of more than 100 op-ed articles, published in dozens of Clinton vote would coalesce around Brown, allowing him to newspapers. He was always bright, always articulate, always win the New York primary and derail Clinton's already witty, and usually wise. shaky campaign. He died in his home on March 19, from complications Tsongas responded to this situation by announcing that if from AIDS. he got a good vote in the New York primary he might jump back into the race. This announcement heartened his support­ Roy A. Childs, Jr., 1949-1992 - He was the ers. Tsongas got nearly 300/0 of the vote, an extremely good enfant terrible of the libertarian movement in the late 196Os, showing for man who had officially withdrawn from the race doing more to popularize anarchism than any other individu­ and did not campaign at all. Despite this strong showing, he al. He wrote brilliantly and extensively on a wide range of announced two days later that he had finally made up his subjects. His literary career reached its apex in the late 1970s, mind for sure and was out of the race for good.. when he edited Libertarian Review. His literary output de­ What can explain this strange behavior? The most likely clined sharply thereafter; during the 1980s and 1990s it was explanation for this curious political dance is that Tsongas pretty much limited to writing for the catalog of Laissez Faire did it to help the Clinton campaign, for that was assuredly its Books. only important effect. And it was easy to forsee: Tsongas He had a wide circle of friends, including this magaZine. would split the anti-Clinton vote, thereby insuring Clinton a He was always generous with encouragement and advice, victory based on the Arkansan's solid support from black vot­ even promising on several occasions to write major articles ers and modest support from other Democrats. At the very for publication here, though he never found the time or ener­ least, Tsongas' re-entry into the race would take the wind out gy to do so. of Brown's sails. And Tsongas might very well finish second, His brilliant conversation was admired by countless effectively knocking Brown out of the race - which is indeed friends. He had a flare for drama; he loved gossip and knew what happened. more about the colorful personalities of the libertarian move­ Who stood to gain from these entirely predictable conse­ ment than anyone else. His own passing leaves the movement quences of Tsongas' return to the race only to withdraw again much less colorful, much less lively. He will be missed by his after the New York primary? Bill Clinton, and no one else. If friends, who are legion, and by all who value human liberty. the anti-Clinton vote had united behind Brown, Clinton's Roy always had trouble controlling his appetites. Only campaign might very well have been dealt a fatal blow. days after leaving a clinic where he sought treatment in an at­ Instead, he emerged from New York as the clear front-runner tempt to lose weight, he checked himself into a hospital, with enough delegate support to make his nomination where he died of a complication of obesity on May 22. inevitable. (A personal memoir of Roy Childs is published on page 28 Tsongas and Clinton are intelligent men. They could in this issue.) Vice-Presidential follies - Newspaper colum­ nists and pundits have been full of advice for H. Ross Perot about whom he ought select as a running mate, generally ad­ vising that he select a well-known major party politician, to give his campaign "credibility." The name most frequently mentioned is Paul Tsongas. Their advice is as wrong as wrong can be. Perot's whole o I'" appeal is as an anti-politician. Choosing a politician as his /"'\ I" ~~(\ '"' o running mate would undermine that appeal. My guess is r~ f;;?~ that Perot will follow his wise practice of ignoring the pun­ dits and choose someone not associated with politics. If he rrr.9 0:7 @ ~ I7PQ fI¥1_ wants to maximize his electoral chances, he should choose (~l,UJ< ~J\ J 4 someone of genuine national stature - someone like Lee \ B f'b Iacocca or Norman Schwarzkopf. But Perot has never been ~'W e invade Burgundy tomorrow -I need a good narrative hook one to share the limelight, so don't be surprised if he chooses for my autobiography." Liberty 11 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992 plainly see the tremendous advantages for Clinton of widen a public road. One of the landowners with whom he Tsongas' actions. But what were the benefits for Tsongas? negotiated was himself. He paid himself $3999 for land that The only one I can divine is that Clinton promised him some­ was essentially identical to land purchased from other land­ thing big - like the vice-presidential slot. owners for $1499. Charges of conflict of interest on this mat­ So don't be surprised if Slick Willie picks Tsongas as his ter and various possible violations of campaign financing running mate. The deal is probably already done. laws were pending before the Alaska Public Offices Commis­ Meanwhile, what about America's favorite running joke, sion when Marrou left Alaska. Dan Quayle? Will Bush retain him? It all depends on how the 4. Without the knowledge or permission of other corpo­ president's prospects look at the time of the Republican con­ rate officers, Marrou applied for and received a corporate vention. Bush has always been much more committed to per­ Mastercard in the name of "Project 51-92," the political action sonal relationships than to any sort of political principles, so committee that he, Michael Emerling, and Richard Winger his every inclination is to remain loyal to Danny the Dummy. had formed. He used this credit card to pay for various per­ On the other hand, Bush undoubtedly realizes that Danny sonal expenses. Emerling and Winger learned about it only is not an asset to his candidacy. Indeed, it has probably oc­ when the card issuer sent letters to the committee threatening curred to him that in a close race, Quayle could be the factor legal action. that might sink his campaign. 5. During the period between his vice-presidential cam­ When the Republicans meet in Houston, Bush will keep paign in 1988 and his Presidential campaign beginning in Quayle on the ticket if he figures his re-election chances are 1991, Marrou obtained various goods and services on credit fairly safe. But if he's worried, Danny the Dummy just might for which he never paid, including $519.88 to MCI, $91.89 to Chevron, $1,096.02 to Montgomery Ward, $246.50 to Hall­ be Danny the Dumped. Best candidate to replace him: Colin mark Realty, $245 to the Las Vegas Water District (he failed Powell. He's black, he's intelligent, he's articulate - qualities to pay his water bill for half a year), plus $1904.42 to the that Bush sorely lacks. -eAA Mastercard account of Project 51-92. He also failed to pay The Marrou mess - On April 9, two days before $113 in property taxes for the building that served both as his meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan, members of the Libertarian home and campaign headquarters, resulting in his being list­ Party National Committee received an express mail package. ed several times as a tax delinquent in Las Vegas news­ Inside was a request that NatCom remove Andre Marrou papers. from the LP's presidential ticket on grounds that Marrou had 6. He had insisted that his campaign schedule be arranged a long record of deceit and fraud. to maximize visits to New York, so that he could spend time The letter was from Michael Emerling, a longtime with his girlfriend. Libertarian Party activist who had managed Andre Marrou's 7. He attempted to get the campaign to pay for travel ex­ successful bid for the LP nomination. Emerling explained penses of his girlfriend while she traveled with him. how long and how well he had known Marrou, and his There followed 21 pages of documents: a letter from the shock at discovering that Marrou had engaged in a variety Alaska Public Offices Commission, explaining that it was no of fraudulent and otherwise ethically questionable activities, longer pursuing Marrou because he had left the state, letters from his creditors offering to settle for partial payments of viz: funds due, a sorry record of his failing to make house pay­ 1. Marrou had lied about his personal history for many ments, receipts for various payments of his personal debts years, maintaining, among other things, that he had been made by his campaign committee, a copy of the delinquent married only twice, when in fact he had been married four tax notice, more letters from collection agencies .... times. At the NatCom meeting, the agenda was Marrou and the 2. After he moved from Massachusetts to Alaska, he quit mood was glum. The leadership of the LP was already un­ paying his court-ordered child support to his second wife. happy with the campaign. In an unprecedented move that 3. While serving in the Alaska Legislature, he agreed to amounted to a foreclosure, it had ordered the campaign act as the City of Homer's representative in acquiring land to continued on page 68 7If18reD,_ by Ace Backwords @1cr'1 DN THE WAKE· OF THE RObNEY (C$T'S A 'TOTAL BRfA!~R-E.5-1-1)E-N-T-B-OSU-R-£AC-HE-S-O-O;-" OO~ANWHIL£, AMERiCA CONClU])tS KIN&- VERDICTJ RIOTIN& AND OF LAW AND ORDER!!" oPINED WITH A HEARFF£L' APPEAL: llIAT 7J.I~ sesr WAV '10 'DEAL L.ooTING BORST OUT AMoNG-5T ~E CI',ZENJ AS WALL STREET t' UST "::j W\"'~!HE RAGE: ,HAT BLACKS t"lARAUDIN& S4L BANKER~ AT :fuNK BoND HOOLIGANS RAPED WE M POT AN END TO . FE"£L ASOOT tHE I

12 Liberty L.A. Riots Los Angeles Burned for Your Sins by R. W. Bradford

No one expected the jury in the The trial - I watched most of the trial of four Los Angeles policemen accused of beating Rodney King, a black man who trial of the police officers who beat had attempted to elude officers who had clocked him speeding. Rodney King to return a verdict of And a very strange trial it was. It was quickly evident that the defense was better prepared, more competent, and smarter "not guilty. " than the prosecution - and that nevertheless the prosecution had an open-and-shut case. No one was surprised when The reason is that the prosecution had the best possible evi­ dence on its side: The Tape. The Tape plainly showed a group of Los Angeles police officers beating Rodney King while he angry young blacks took to the lay prone and helpless. The jurors could see with their own eyes what had happened. streets when they learned of the Yet the defense had an awful lot going for it. The trial had been moved from Los Angeles to Ventura County. That is to verdict. say, from a racially heterogeneous city to an overwhelmingly white suburban county, from a city with a high minority popu­ No one could believe that the lation to a county where many people live to get away from minorities, from a city where many have experienced mistreat­ police would stand by and allow ment at the hands of the police to a county where many police­ men choose to live. an orgy of looting and murder to Six of the jurors were ex-military, and three others were government employees. All were comfortable with the idea take hold in the heart of the na­ that the government knows what's right, and much more sym­ pathetic with police officers (their neighbors) than with black, tion IS greatest city. inner-eity residents like Rodney King. The defense counsel worked very hard to convince this jury Why did it happen? What does it to ignore the evidence of their own eyes. Time and time again, defense attorneys referred derisively to the IIamateur video./I (One wonders: if the video had been professional would the mean? What will America be Iikel defense have considered it more credible?) Time and time again, defense argued that Rodney King was after the riots? a threat to the police officers, who had no choice but to beat him and beat him and beat him. They argued that some of the Liberty's editors sort through the blows from the police clubs may have missed, that those that connected weren't very powerful, that Rodney King lying on rubblel looking for answers. the ground was a constant danger to the officers, who in fact Liberty 13 Volume 5, Number 6 Julv 1992

were using only the minimum force required. They argued with the baseball-bats the cops carried. that, although the officers hadn't put it in their reports or As the case was going to the jury, I left on a business mentioned it to anyone in the ten months between the beat­ trip. The possibility that the officers would be exonerated ing and the trial, the officers were convinced that Rodney did not occur to me. You see, there was The Tape. The best King was "on PCP" and therefore might have superhuman evidence possible. People could see what happened with powers and absolutely no inhibition against making a des­ their own eyes. Even if they lived in a suburb as refugees perate move that might kill many of them. from black Americans, even if they heard months of sophis­ Time and time again, the defense tried to get the jurors tic arguments from skillful twisters of the truth. You see, to look at the case from the point of view of the accused, there was The Tape. rather than as disinterested parties or as victims of police The overwhelming majority of Americans agreed. violence. Time and time again, the defense argued that the Virtually all black Americans agreed: the evidence of the of­ officers had acted in accordance with their training, skirting ficers' guilt was utterly convincing. Most white Americans the question of whether the officers had broken the law. agreed. Liberals agreed. Even those who ordinarily are It was a remarkable and fascinating effort, a well-crafted most inclined to apologize for police violence - political torrent of words, fascinating the same way program-length conservatives - agreed. infomercials for baldness cures, instant wealth, and impo­ But the twelve members of the jury did not agree. After tence remedies fascinate. ten days deliberation, they exonerated the officers on ten of Besides The Tape, the prosecution had the fact that one the eleven charges against them, and were unable to arrive of the officers had bragged of the beating in a computer at a verdict on one charge against one officer. message to other policemen, "I hadn't beat anyone up that bad in a long time." And the prosecution took advantage of The verdict - ill think we were able to do what we a serious slip by the defense that introduced into evidence set out to do; which was to get the jurors to look at this case the description by one officer of his intervention in a do­ not through the eyes of a camera, not through the eyes of mestic dispute of a black family earlier the day of the beat­ an amateur video, but through the eyes of the police offi­ ing as a scene from Gorillas in the Mist. cers confronting this situation on March 3, 1991 ... we put But most of all, the prosecution had The Tape. And it the jury in the shoes of the police officers ... " That's how plainly showed Rodney King lying prone on the ground, Michael Stone, attorney for officer Lewis Powell explained flailing as he was beaten, then lying still until an officer how the defense had won the case. "The videotape presents kicked him in the head, then reacting to the blows, only to a distorted view of the scene. The jury is required to look at be smashed with another torrent of two-handed smashes the case through the eyes of the officers." The jurors had made a pledge to each other to refuse to speak to the press or to explain their decision. But as the Reaping the whirlwind - Racism is ugly. There are two obvious nation stood by in shock, some of them ways to combat it. One is to affirm an individualistic standard of justice and broke that pledge and revealed why appraisal, thus maintaining a high moral stance against the stupidities of prej­ they had ignored the evidence of their udice. The other is to attack all stereotyping as prejudicial. Collectivists natu­ own eyes. rally choose the latter route, which has become standard in our culture. In the first interview after the trial, The problem with the second approach is that stereotyping is inevitable. It obtained by Ted Koppel on condition he is merely a form ofgeneralization that, as generalizations go, can mirror reali­ conceal the name and sex of the juror, a ty in significant ways. (The significance is shown in the effectiveness of much juror explained, amazingly, that the ethnic humor; personally, I know the validity of many stereotypes of dozens of officers who surrounded King Scandinavians, and laugh at Scandinavian jokes. Many Jews do the same with that night and the four officers who beat outrageous Jewish and Yiddish humor.) Denying to people a legitimate means him were not in control of the situation of coping with information about cultures derails normal processes of think­ at all. In fact, "Rodney King controlled ing, and confuses as much as it purifies. Reason is subverted. the action." At any time, you see, he Leftists have combined this attack on a thought process with a victimiza­ could have stopped flailing around and tion logarithm that continually calls attention to the very racial categories that, that would be the end of it. The juror re­ according to the anti-stereotyping rule, are not supposed to matter. ferred to King as "the violent felon," a We now reap the whirlwind. Afflicted by this double bind, people have no curious characterization, suggesting that choice but to reject one message or the other, or both, or go "crazy." The riot­ the police who beat him knew he was ers went "crazy." I fear that many white Americans will reject the double bind not just a traffic violator who had tried and embrace the stereotype of the irrational, black looter as not only a legiti­ to elude them, and that it is appropriate mate generalization (which regarding race, it is not), but also as an excuse to to beat him because of his past behavior. prejudicially despise black individuals. And thus will racial tensions escalate. "The Police Department had no al­ How many people will reject the modern double bind and adopt the stan­ ternative. He [Rodney King] was obvi­ dards of individual responsibility? How many will see the links between it ously a dangerous person, massive size and the idea of justice, the idea that best grounds condemnation of both and threatening actions ... Mr King was police brutality and the jury's verdict? - Timothy Virkkala controlling the whole show with his ac- 14 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

tions," said one. sophistry of the defense attorney. The jury made the wrong "Rodney King got what he deserved," another said. decision, as sometimes happens. "Based upon the testimony, the evidence, the informa­ Orders had been issued to bar the tion that was provided to us, [the officers' actions were] The reaction - press from police stations while the jury deliberated. But well within the scope of the LA Police Academy training. some reporters managed to slip in, and what they saw can They used everything that they had at their availability," only be described as a celebration. said another. /l1'm elated, absolutely elated. I'm proud to be a Foothill The stress and isolation of jury service took its toll. Juror officer, and I'm proud to be an LAPD officer. It's like this accounts of the deliberation are replete with episodes of sick feeling is finally going to go away," Officer Corina crying; one juror reported a "religious experience." Smith told a reporter, as she raised her fist in the air upon Plainly, at least some jurors had lost touch with reality. news of the verdict. Other officers at Parker Center the As Los Angeles burned and criminals roamed its streets downtown police headquarters, applaUded and cheered, looting and murdering in the aftermath of the verdict, one shouting "Yes!" and "Go get 'em!" juror told Larry King on CNN that the riots were in no way Leaders of the black community had been worried that connected to the verdict, and would have happened any­ the verdict - whatever it might be - might lead to trouble way. Another defended the racist Gorillas in the Mist in the streets. Police boss Darryl Gates had reassured the characterization of a black couple by one officer as press that the police were prepared for any contingen­ just his way of saying that they were "a close-knit cy. However, two-thirds of the patrol captains were family." out of town at a training session when the ver­ The prosecutor blamed his losing the dict was announced. Gates saw no reason to case on the change of venue to Ventura keep the day shift on duty after the verdict County. "This would have been a 'perfect was announced; that would mean overtime. jury' in a criminal case with a civilian de­ L.A. In the black neighborhoods, the reaction fendant, but could not have been worse to the verdict was shock and disbelief, just as for a case in which law enforcement offic­ Riots it was everywhere else. The reaction was also es were defendants," he explained. "These despair. Here was a case where white cops jurors were very pro-law enforcement. had beaten a black man gratuitously and vicious­ They were people who believe there is this 'thin blue line' ly. Unlike other, similar cases, it was not a matter of the separating law-abiding citizens from the jungle, the crimi­ word of the white police officer against the lower-class nal element. They are people who have put police officers black. This time the whole matter was on tape. Justice on a pedestal. They have had very positive experiences would be done this time. But when justice was not done, with police officers." what explanation was possible except naked racism? No This is plainly a partial explanation at best. Ventura matter how a black man acts, he is at the mercy of the white County may be filled with white refugees from the city man. who love the government. But they aren't fools, and they Not surprisingly, many blacks felt rage. They wanted to aren't blind. The evidence of The Tape was as plain to them kick some ass. White ass. They went into the streets, to the as to people elsewhere. Only 18% of Ventura County resi­ nearest commercial districts. By 5:00 p.m., about 50 young, dents agreed with the verdict, according to a poll by the angry black men had gathered at Tom's Liquor Store and Los Angeles Times. That compares to 13% of Los Angeles Deli II, at the corner of Florence and Normandie. They were city residents. looking for trouble. It seems pretty plain that the stress of the trial, the isola­ Timothy Goldman, a 32-year-old black ex-Air Force cap­ tion of the jurors, along with their possible latent racism tain, heard about the verdict while riding in a friend's car. and their authoritarianism made them susceptible to the His friend turned on his police scanner, and found out

TWI,STED IMAGE by Ace Backwords ~1qct1 rP"------~~ WE'RE SICK of BEING- WE'RE S\CK OF BEING WE'RE SICK OF BEING WE'RE SICK OF 6£IN& BLAMED TREA1"£D LIKE C.R\MlNALS VlCTIMIZED BY BLACK EXPEC,£D ,0 KEE.P A LI D foR SLAVERV WHICH MOS,- of AND SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN5 STREET CRIMINALS AND oN If-OO YEARS OF RACIAL US HAD NOTHING TO 1>0 WI/H) ANI) WE.'RE NOT GOING ,-0 WE.'Rt:. NO. GOIN& TO TENSioN AND WE'RE. NOT ~ND WE.'RE NOT c;.OI N& TO -rAKE IT ANYMORE-!!! lAKE IT ANYf'lbR~ f!! GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!! -rAKE IT ANYMORE If!

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Liberty 15 Volume 5, Number 6 July1992

about the problem at Florence and Normandie. They drove fico "I was able to see the police wrestling with an individu­ to the intersection. Goldman had his new RCA camcorder al. It took three or four guys just to put one guy in a car," with him, and decided to record what he saw. Timothy Goldman said. This struggle inflamed the crowd, It was 5:30 p.m. About 15 patrol cars were on the scene; which had grown to perhaps 100 people. "There were some a police helicopter hovered overhead; about 40 police offi­ bottles, cans, and sticks being thrown. It wasn't fighting cers were present, responding to a report of juveniles and punching. None of that. It was just a lot of angry peo­ throwing beer cans at passing motorists. The police were ple out there." trying to keep the young blacks from interfering with traf- His camcorder was rolling at 5:35 when he heard a po­ liceman shout over a megaphone: "It's not worth it. Let's go!" The police got in their cars, turned around and peeled out. Wesley Riots in Jerusalem - As one who remembers the riots of the Wade, the manager of Tom's Liquor Store 196Os, I greeted the Los Angeles experience with profound shock. I knew and Deli IT watched the police turn tail and that the inner cities were troubled, but I hadn't realized that nothing had run. "I couldn't believe my eyes," he said changed for the good and that the same kind of event could happen all Emblazoned .on the sides of the retreating over again. police cars was the motto, "To protect and Editorial writers, too, were shocked, but not to the point of silence. to serve." Newspapers and magazines have never made money printing white At 5:43 p.m., Lt Mike Moulin, field com­ space instead of ink, so there was a lot of jaw-flapping in early May. mander for the LAPD, ordered dispatchers The left had its explanations: The War on Poverty was always starved not to respond to calls from the vicinity of for funds; the Reagan Administration gutted what had been accom­ Normandie and Florence. "I want every­ plished; George Bush is alienated from the people; racism and discrimina­ body out of here. Florence and Normandie. tion have worsened; and the Rodney King decision may have justified Everybody out. Now." some reaction. Within seconds, the crowd took over The right had its explanations: The War on Poverty bought a lot of the street, stopping virtually all traffic, at­ poverty; welfare demolished individual responsibility; drugs and the de­ tacking cars driven by whites and Latinos. cline of the public schools destroyed the family; drug wars decimated the Someone grabbed a metal sandwich board community; black leaders are alienated from the black community; affir­ advertising Marlboro cigarettes and mative action programs exacerbate racism. smashed the window of a white Volvo. The Like editorial writers, clergymen have had a lot to say on social issues mob dragged out its white female driver during the past 25 years. But this time one local priest was properly at a and beat her. At 6:03, the mob smashed its loss for words. He did something unusual for a Episcopal clergyman in way into Tom's Liquor Store and Deli II, such instances: He turned to the Bible. He told us that he felt as Jesus must looting its contents. have felt when He surveyed Jerusalem and, in a passage recorded in The riot was underway. Luke, said: "0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone Meanwhile, Police Chief Darryl Gates those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children togeth­ left police headquarters to go to a political er, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings...." fund-raising dinner to oppose a charter This was a refreshing and humble way of looking at this tragedy, amendment to make the LA police chief which I feel is almost hopeless. Ultimately, our inner cities will improve more accountable to elected officials. Asked only when individuals take personal responsibility for their lives. That by a reporter about the riot. Gates ex­ means that not just welfare programs, but the very ideas that people hold, plained that his officers were dealing with have to change. We have to go back to what I believe was the philosophy the situation "calmly, maturely, profession­ of Martin Luther King, Jr.: to address specific wrongs, especially those ally." By this time, his officers were gath­ brought on by government itself, without blaming society or all white ered at a bus station, safely away from the people for all the problems experienced by African Americans. People violence and looting, awaiting instructions. who blame others for their situations end up helpless and hopeless, and act in rage, and inflict pain. The riot - Darryl Gates did not decide Unfortunately, I don't see much hope for any return to more positive to mobilize the police until 8:00 p.m., by attitudes in the inner city. The nation is too polarized. The right is divided which time the riot and looting were totally over the war on drugs while, on the left, The New Republic's recognition out of control. In an orgy of contempt for that welfare has been a failure has led its editors to propose something al­ life and property that lasted five days, riot­ most as bad: government-guaranteed jobs. Thus even modest reforms are ers looted, burned, beat and killed. stalemated, and political decisions take the path of least resistance: pan­ The riot that began with black outrage dering to entrenched interests - mostly, what The Wall Street Journal calls against the King verdict quickly degenerat­ the "legacy programs of the Great Society." ed into a battle between decent people and So we have a tragedy on our hands, a very human tragedy. A great scum. The acts of heroism and the acts of many people are living meaningless lives. They are suffering and they are infamy that played themselves out on the causing enormous sorrow, and I can only fear how it will end. Remember, nation's television screens were committed Jesus did not save Jerusalem; it was captured and largely destroyed in by people of all races. And the victims of 70 A.D. - Jane S. Shaw the rioting and looting were people of all 16 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

races. April 30 to May 4 was that the police refused to protect the When it was over, the body count stood at 58; another lives and property long enough that the criminal element 2,383 people had been injured; the fire department reported was emboldened to take effective control of the streets, 5,383 "structural fire calls"; 16,291 arrests had been made; making it difficult for police to regain control. and approximately $1,000,000,000 in property damage had Although the King verdict was the spark that ignited been sustained. Casualties were more than double those of the riots, their cause was more complex. The racial animosi­ the 1965 Watts riots; after adjusting for inflation, property ty, envy and criminal tendencies of the looters were certain­ destruction was more than five times as great. ly important factors. But there is little doubt that the most important cause of the riots was the behavior of the Los The postmortem - Conservative Republicans and Angeles Police Department, for it was the police that pro­ left-liberal Democrats were qUick to blame each other for vided the opportunity to the looters. the riots. Conservatives blamed the riots on the failure of When civil disorders threaten, the way to minimize the the Great Society programs; left-liberals blamed the riots on threat is to move in quickly with a massive show of force. the heartless refusal of the Reagan and Bush administra­ The LAPD did the opposite: it responded with a show of tions to pour as much money into Great Society programs cowardice, leaVing the streets to the angry mob. Once the as the Democrats wanted. Both sides of this inane de- police retreated, the riots and looting were inevitable. bate are wrong, of course. Like any bureaucrat who screws up, Chief Cates re­ The conservatives are right when they assert sponded by making excuses. His officers couldn't fight that these programs have failed to address the riots because they were busy protecting fire­ the problem at which they are ostensibly fighters, he said. This was quickly and angrily targeted - urban poverty among minori­ denied by Fire Chief Donald Manning. ties - a fact that ought to be obvious even Gates' most ludicrous excuse was to blame to left-liberals, who continue to crank out his department's failure on those Americans studies showing that inner city poverty is L.A. outraged at the beating of Rodney King, who getting worse, not better. But poverty was Riots had "turned this once-prOUd organization into neither the spark that started the riots nor one that has adopted a softer approach because the force that sustained it. of unrelenting criticism over the Rodney C. King Somehow, the simple concept of justice has been forgot­ beating." Apparently, Chief Cates cannot tell the difference ten by the left and the right, both intent on blaming the between officers beating a suspect in custody and protect­ other. The evil of the looters was the same as the evil of the ing a citizen from an angry mob. police who beat Rodney King: they had no respect for the The cowardice of the police leadership was more-or-Iess lives and property of other human beings. It is this respect openly admitted by some of Gates' underlings. "The offi­ that is the hallmark of a civilized society. No amount of cers' lives would have been placed in jeopardy, and they cash poured into government programs to alleviate poverty might have had to resort to deadly force," explained 77th can instill this respect. Nor can the conservative's favorite Division Capt Paul Jefferson, defending the Lt Mike approach - tough-minded "law and order" measures ­ Moulin's decision not to defend the lives and property of so long as those measures are perceived by the police as li­ the people in South Central. "So he decided to pull them censes for abuse of people and their property. out and regroup. He was the field commander." One of the most persistent themes of the apologists for Lt Moulin offered this excuse: "We were significantly the rioters was that the whites, Asians and Latinos who outnumbered. My greatest concern was to have an officer were dragged from their cars and beaten now "know what injured or to have a citizen unnecessarily injured." Rodney King felt like." Whether this is literally true varies Arguably, his refusal to do his duty did reduce officer inju­ from case to case, but the suggestion that the beatings of ries, at least for a few hours, but it is hard to see how aban­ these victims and King are essentially identical is wrong­ doning the law-abiding citizens to the mob so they could be headed. The victims of the rioters were gratuitously beaten beaten up or killed prevented "unnecessary" injuries of by free-lancing criminals. This is horrible, of course. But it citizens. is a different kind of horror, perhaps even worse, when The LAPD proved itself to be little different from the people are gratuitously beaten by the very individuals who gangs it so busily campaigns against. When it had Rodney are hired, trained, and employed to protect them from gra­ King in custody, its heavily-armed officers beat him with­ tuitous violence. out mercy; but when a group of heavily-armed officers was The proximate cause of the riot is not hard to fathom. faced by an angry but mostly unarmed mob of some 50-100 Riots and looting result when three factors concur: (1) some people, it left the scene because of the danger it faced. people are inclined to assault, rob, and murder their fellow "To serve and protect" is the stated purpose of the citizens; (2) some people are unable to defend themselves; LAPD. Whom were its officers serving while they cowered (3) those hired and duty-bound to protect people's lives at the bus station as innocent people were beaten and and property do not do so. The first two of these conditions killed and property looted and destroyed? Whom were are omnipresent: there are always people who want to kill they protecting? Whom were they serving when they aban­ and steal, and there are always people whose lives and doned the good people of Los Angeles to the criminals? property they covet. The unique aspect of the events of Whom were they protecting? Whom were they serving Liberty 17 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

when they beat up Rodney King? Whom were they on King. When they do, it's usually when they are engaged protecting? in some sort of protest or demonstration. Whether they are What upset the public - the decent people who make from the right (e.g. "Operation Rescue" activists) or the left up the overwhelming majority of both black and white (e.g. anti-war demonstrators), they are shocked and sur­ America - was not the brutality of the beating. After all, prised at the violence and sadism inflicted upon them. And Americans of both races overwhelmingly support the they are outraged. death penalty, and I think it safe to say that gassing a But most Americans are never victims of this violence, human being is worse than beating him up. and most never see it. That is the significance of the taping What angered decent Americans was the injustice of the of the Rodney King beating: it provided a graphic record of beating. King after all was suspected of nothing more than the abuse of police power that could not be explained speeding, driving under the influence, and attempting to away, except apparently to a stressed-out jury in Simi elude police officers. These are serious charges, but they Valley. are not the sort of thing that justifies the orgy of violence The riots again illustrated the impact of widespread that the cops inflicted on Rodney King. portable video cameras. When the police attempted to Excessive force and wanton violence inflicted by police deny or explain away their retreat from Tom's Liquor Store is a serious issue, but one that is greatly underestimated be­ and Deli IT, it looked like another case of the cops' word cause the sort of brutality inflicted on Rodney King almost against a few witnesses, just like the Rodney King case at always happens without witnesses and its victims are al­ first was another case of the cops' word versus the testimo­ most always members of relatively powerless social strata. ny of the victim and a few witnesses. It was the amateur Ordinary citizens seldom find themselves at the receiv­ videotape made by Timothy Goldman that proved the ing end of the "power blows" of the sort the cops inflicted cops' cowardice, just as it was George Holliday's amateur videotape of the Rodney King beating that proved the cops' brutality. Beyond the cliches - I'm sure that everyone has found his or So it's no wonder that the attorney for her own treasures of absurdity in the media aftermath of the L.A. riots. Sgt Stacey Koon repeatedly referred to the My own favorites include the bland statements of police apologists "amateur video-tape" when addressing the about the inability of roving gangs of cops to protect themselves from mo­ jury, his voice dripping with sarcasm. And torists, short of surrounding those motorists and beating them to the it's no wonder that a right-wing apologist pavement, and the equally bland statements of liberal pundits, blaming for police brutality has suggested restrict­ the riots on the supposed discontinuance of Great Society programs dur­ ing private ownership of videocameras. As ing recent Republican administrations - programs on which, of course, time goes on, it will become more and Republicans, like Democrats, have spent hundreds of billions of dollars. more difficult for the police to cover up There's a refreshing simplicity about seeing people just face the facts their misdeeds with mountains of bureau­ and lie about them. cratese reports and·torrents of excuses and What disturbs me is the murky stuff now flowing from editorial pages verbiage. and television speakers and other sources of "think pieces" in which sim­ At least three of the four police officers ple political disasters get transformed into metaphysical dilemmas. "Are who brutalized Rodney King got away we one nation - or two?"; "Is this is the testing time of the democratic with it, this time. They were lucky. The po- spirit?"; "What is this sickness lurking in the American soul?"; lice officers who decided to allow the riot­ "Breakdown in the moral order: why and wherefore?" ing and looting to begin will not likely be I like metaphysical questions as well as the next person - better, prob­ so fortunate. They may not face criminal ably - but this sort of thing can be pretty easily hosed off our national charges, but they face a public increasingly sidewalk. aware that many L.A. policemen are bullies Create a voucher system for education, so that poor children aren't so­ intent upon brutalizing a certain class of cialized in the monopoly schools of the state; legalize drugs, taking the society, unwilling to do the job for which business glamor and immense profits away from the low-lifes and allow­ they were hired, cowardly in the face of ing the government to release more than half the inmates of its "correc­ danger. tional institutions"; eliminate the onerous taxes and license fees and "health" codes and"disabled persons access provisions" and zoning re­ In the long run, the Rodney King beat­ strictions and all the rest of the legal barriers that prevent anyone but peo­ ing, the trial of the offending officers, and ple with well-fed lawyers from starting their own business; stop using the riots that the verdict touched off may welfare to encourage single-parent families; repeal the minimum wage; result in changes in the role of the police. find some cops who care about protecting private property more than Perhaps, at long last, Americans will protecting their egos; stop sending up literal and metaphorical space shut­ outgrow their infatuation with TV cops tles, and return the funds saved directly to the taxpayers: do these things, and demand that police actually do their and the metaphysical problems that trouble the American spirit will duty, that they live up to the slogan paint­ shrink to quite manageable proportions. ed on the side of the Los Angeles Police You don't want to do these things? Now that's a problem worth Department's cars: pondering. - 5tephen Cox liTo serve and protect." o 18 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

The Fist Inside the Glove by John Hospers

Not very many blocks down the hill from where I sit, looters did not seem to occur to either the caller or the buildings are burning in Hollywood, and the televi- talk-show referee. Did the referee really think that all sion screen shows crowds of looters breaking into these people were really taking what belonged to them stores, stealing what they want, and even bow­ - and would he have referred to the TV sets and so ing before the camera as they emerge from the on as "their own property" if asked 24 hours earli­ store carrying the loot. er? (In fact, as store-owners later testified, the The television commentators mean­ first things the mobs took were not foods but while are outdoing one another with end­ liquor and cigarettes.) less repetitiveness, making remarks about The work of the looters was quite profes­ the affair, and interviewing various peo­ L.A. sional: a store would be ransacked and then ple involved in it. But there are some torched at once, so efficiently that by the time questions I would like· to see put to them Riots the firemen with their police escort arrived, which nobody asks, and assumptions the building was past saving. Was no inquiry made which nobody appears to question. ever made as to the identity of these arsonists? Nobody I Almost no one suggests that there might possibly be heard on TV or radio ever asked about this, nor did they something wrong with taking other people's property and show any curiosity about it; it was as if the fires were set

appropriating it for oneself. One roving interviewer did by dark mysterious forces or impersonal powers, /Iacts of ask some such question toa middle-aged housewife who God" rather than acts of men. We heard a lot about the ri­ was making off with a new VCR while her small children oting's victims, but when there are a lot of victims don't looked on, and she replied simply, "It ain't stealing." (The there have to be some agents? (The idea that nobody reporter didn't ask the lady what she thought it was.) knows who these agents are is about as plausible as say­ Among those interviewed were social workers and ing that no Germans knew anything about the Nazi death ministers in the black churches; not one of them ever re­ camps, from one end of Germany to the other.) ferred to this activity, displayed on the screen hour after Nobody seemed to exhibit any insight into how the sit­ hour, as stealing. When one referee on a radio program did uation could be resolved. Everyone calls for jobs, but there refer to "looters," a caller responded with indignation, is no more appreciation among journalists than among the "They're not looters, they're your mother, your grand­ ghetto residents of the simple facts of economics - that en­ mother, your brother, the hungry family next door." The during jobs can be created only on a free market, that no­ possibility that they might be your grandmother etc. and body can have wealth if the wealth-creators are destroyed,

Ace Backwords 0fCf'fl &rot:: DICi!! rr~ GOT 1'0 -r~E PoINT GOSH!! YOU'RE R1GH1j AR~ YoU IDINCi?f! WHI1'£ WHERE RACIST CAB PRIVERS J"oE: WHilE LIBERAL!! I'M SCARE-I> TO L.\6ERAl REFUSE TO PICK UP BLACK C'MON) L£TS GO TO A DEA1l4 ,0 WALl< FAR~S JUST &CAU5£ OF ALL BLACI< N£/GHBoRHex>D lHROO6+1 1'HE~£) MAN·.· IS "TAKING THE SO-CALLED A55AUL15 Be; AND TAK~ tyboR M£5SA6£ Ul5 :rT~ 10 THE SiR£[.S) MAN 1! MESSAGf. BLACK MUGGERS!! A BLATANT CASE. of RACIST / 1"0 -rnr Rf\C.IAL DISCRIJ'l\1NAl1oNJ MAN!! S1RE:EtsJ r; MAN!!

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Liberty 19 Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

that people will not take risks if they will only be bankrupt­ of the gang members interviewed. Then we'll riot again, ed for taking them. The "new government programs" are then we'll burn down the whole city. (One wonders what supposed to deliver jobs, but who is going to provide these would happen during a real depression, with twice the un­ jobs, and who is going to pay the wages? Not once, in all employment that exists today.) And thus, in the midst of a the talk about solutions, was there any recogniti~n of the crisis that was supposed to elicit sympathy, comes the un­ dependence of jobs on job-creators. The "jobs" were a kind dercurrent of threat, of blackmail: If you don't do what we of floating abstraction, existing out there somewhere. All want, we'll destroy you. More government billions spent, we have to do is command them and they'll be there for us. we'll still destroy you if we don't like what we see. And And if the added welfare and the jobs are not provided, thus, from under the velvet glove, comes the iron first. what then? "Then you haven't seen nothing yet," said one Thus far, that is what emerges from the riots. 0

Those who lose, those who gain - First, ism, arson, and stealing), what specific redress of grievanc­ some rather unoriginal observations. The Los Angeles es were the demonstrators seeking, and of whom? Did poor have some legitimate grievances. But the LA. riots they want the jury's verdict reversed, and if so, how and were not so much a protest as a looting spree. Those who by what authority? Do the demonstrators want jury trial gained most from the chaos (new clothes, food, liquor, cig­ (and its expense) bypassed in cases whose desired out­ arettes, VCRs, appliances, and stories to tell the great­ comes are already clear in public opinion? Do they want to grandchildren) and those who had the most reason to institute something like the people's courts ofNazi protest were probably, for the most part, not the same peo­ Germany to decide cases in conformity with approved na­ ple. Persons A, B, and C had cause to protest, but persons tional sentiment? Our legal system can sometimes reach X, Y, and Z stole the moment, and used it for their own il­ wrong verdicts, and when I am in an arrogant enough licit gain. mood to think that casually following the media makes me As such, the revolt is a pretty good paradigm for redis­ better-informed than the jurors who gave the case many tributive politics in this country at this time. weeks ofconcentrated attention, I agree that the King case People act as individuals, even when rights are granted was one of those in which error prevailed. But what re­ to them as a group. Almost invariably, those members of form of the system are the critics suggesting? Mayor the group who were the best-positioned and strongest to Bradley and President Bush were hardly contributing to begin with will receive the benefits aimed at their weaker sound public discussion - instead, they were behaving ir­ brothers and sisters. So, for example, the primary benefici­ responsibly - when they went on television to expose aries of "affirmative" action programs meant to improve their personal pique at the verdict. the status of American blacks are the blacks who need the The media and the intellectuals have become too help the least; their fellow African Americans will be as­ respectful of ill-focused demonstrations. Examples occur sisted very little, if indeed their position does not grow when picketers on both sides of the abortion issue try to worse. Ifa job must be given to a person of color, the mid­ sway Supreme Court decisions or when students at my dle-class black with the most training and experience will alma mater seize any convenient issue to advertise that get it. (And the whites who lose out will usually be lower­ they are politically more correct than the college middle-class laborers - not the wealthy white beneficiar­ administration. (Martin Luther King's Montgomery bus ies of past racism, who may well be administering the boycott and other aspects of the civil-rights movement program.) were examples, in contrast, of well-focused protests.) Here's another example, a bit closer to my experience. Demonstrations are particularly reprehensible, in my view, I've participated in a number of organizations whose meet­ when the participants interpose their bodies to block ings were dominated by men and only a handful of access to abortion clinics or government offices or the sites women. In order to make it easier for women to partici­ of activities they deem ecologically harmful. Committing pate, some of these groups imposed rules that gave physical obstruction and threatening physical violence, women speaking privileges (not allowing two men to talk impeding traffic, harassing pedestrians, and even in a row, for example). The result: the aforementioned mindlessly chanting slogans are the opposite of the actual handful ofwomen used these privileges to the hilt, the discussion of public issues that can deserve respect. other females by and large stayed quiet, and the meeker - Leland B. Yeager men were shat on at every opportunity. In L.A., relatively well-off minorities - and white peo­ The anti-riot president - George Bush had an ple - happily looted stores belonging to not particularly interesting response to the Los Angeles riots: "Wanton de­ well-off small entrepreneurs. "Justice," welfare-state-style. struction of life and property is never a legitimate expres­ - Jesse Walker sion of outrage." Outraged wanton destruction of Panamanian or Iraqi life and property is, presumably, ex­ Final verdicts - So far as the events in Los Angeles cepted from this otherwise hardfast rule.' included demonstrations (and not just mayhem, vandal- - Jesse Walker 20 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

Phil, Bryant, and the Brothers by Karl Hess

Taking his place alongside Darryl Gates as the most obnox­ the new detente. ious public figure to be associated with the Los Angeles riots Despite his new image as a man of peace, Monster feels is television talk show host Phil Donahue. I say "associat- that the rioting in Los Angeles was justified and even noble ed with" because, should there be another riot, as the in aspiration. He told an interviewer: "What this Rodney chorus of the outraged keeps threatening, Donahue King verdict laid down was a revolution. When I say will have contributed powerfully to the mood of revolution, all you right-wing conservatives get afraid. justification that will have encouraged it. The fact of the matter is revolution means nothing Phil Donahue is a constant and conscious but change." (See? Nothing to worry about.) offender against honesty, integrity, and Meanwhile, our host, aroused almost orgas­ good character. Rather than probing for un­ mically by the gangster's delightful threats, derlying causes from his mighty, privileged bows, scrapes, fawns, condescends, and grimac­ position in the media, he is the foremost L.A. es with pain as "the brothers" (not his brothers, popular apologist for all those who cannot Riots just the brothers) give him the chance to accept, share his huge hunk of the American pie. with masochistic frisson, all the guilt the Aldas He is the ultimate guilty liberal, indignant about everything and Asners have left up for grabs. Donahue seiz­ that goes on in the world beyond his own coddled, rich life­ es every grain of guilt like a coke-head sniffing up the good style enclave. stuff. In his prime performance, after the riot, he had as guests Writhing in the Iron Maiden of his tortured sensitivity, he two African Americans who seem to be making the rounds reminds the gang members with a telling smirk that some telling guilty Euro-American liberal interviewers that if they white people have this or that different view. His lap-dog au­ don't get off their asses and "do something," the fires will dience quickly dismisses all these heretical, "racist" notions. rage again. The star of the show, the one to whom Donahue In the midst of this, one poor African American, a sad virtually genuflected with every softball question, was the in­ token in this Oberammergau of passion and prejudice, kept elegantly but appropriately named Li'l Monster. He is 26, trying to say that people, as individuals, are responsible for married, and the father of a two-year-old son; he lives in a their actions, and that no social action that does not demand garden apartment, and is a member of a gang called the Eight this can quell the flames. TrayCrips. Hah! An Uncle Tom! The brothers are outraged. In the comer of his left eye is a small teardrop, a badge in­ Then there were several Koreans who gotjust a few words dicating that he has either killed someone or gone to prison. in edgewise. They come from oppressions even more ancient On television he is shy about which. Police records are not so and lethal than the American slave experience, they said. coy: he has done both. Indeed, he has been so noticeable in They did not come to this country with wealth, but with ener­ his criminal career that people locally have given him the gy and ambition. They were not privileged with special bank honorific title O.G., for "Original Gangster." loans. They pooled funds with family and friends. Now, however, he has discovered what more traditional What is behind this obvious aberration? A conspiracy! As politicians have known for ages: you can get away with one of the brothers explained, there is a conspiracy in this more murder as a statesman than as a lone felon. He has ma­ country to keep African Americans oppressed, indigent, neuvered himself into the middle of the apparently epic if drunk, addicted, malnourished, and undereducated. And the tentative truce between the two major Los Angeles street Koreans play a central role in this, because they own so gangs - oops, neighborhood associations - the Crips and the many liquor stores. Bloods. One Christian minister has annointed him the virtual Paging Bill Cosby! Which Korean-owned liquor store crux of the truce in which the two gangs will try to dominate does he abjectly and obediently patronize for reasons beyond their areas through media exposure and political clout, his control? methods far more effective than the occasional drive-by Ordinarily, Bryant Gumbel stands in striking contrast to shooting. Phil Donahue. Bright, witty, and well-informed, Gumbel's Li'l Monster, now said to be looking for an office to house probing questions and refusal to be awed by eminence make his rise to power, wants BOO numbers in all of the area's him one of the best interviewers on television. I really phone booths, and a computer system with which to "net­ thought he might steer clear of the nonsense that infected the work" with any gang members who want to participate in other network newshawks. Liberty 21 Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

I guess I've come to expect too much from this ex­ entist, my neighbor, Charles Murray. It saddened him that sportscaster. This time, he failed me completely. He may one so young could be so filled with hate for a system that ?ave avoided the loud lamentations and pretentious postur­ had rewarded her more richly than Mozart - who, also op­ lngs of Mr Donahue, but he emitted a conscience-deafening pressed, died in poverty and never lived as comfortably as silence that was in many ways just as bad. the current tribulation of rap artists do today. Gumbel brought onto his program a young rap"artist" by But then, who am I, a Euro-American, to dare suggest that the name of Sister Souljah (born Lisa Williamson). This Mozart was all that good? Mea Culpa, mea culpa -I suppose young woman, speaking from a position in the upper ranks I must take myself to The God Donahue, whip myself merci­ of economic privilege, is famed for a song that declares, lessly, fall before him and humbly ask his Divine Pardon. "Souljah was not born to make white people comfortable. I To a Washington Post writer who ominously described am African first. I am black first. I want what's good for me her appearances on television as a "wake-up call," she ex­ and my people first. And if my survival means your total de­ plained her characterization of the riot as "wise" by saying: struction, then so be it. You built this wicked system. They '1 mean, if black people kill black people every day, why not say two wrongs don't mean a right, but it damn sure makes it have a week and kill white people? You understand what I'm even." Doesn't that mean "kill honkies"? Isn't that roughly saying?" what Darryl the Hun has been teaching the LAPD about Yes, Sister, we certainly do - and so, sadly, do the young "niggers"? people who are making you rich while many of them live in This same young woman had been trotted out on NBC poverty and dream of your promised revolution and the fire just a few days earlier to give what-for to the honky social sci- next time. 0

"Dumb," dumber, dumbest - The dumbest ty programs. Some RepUblicans suggested this, but, as usual, analysis of the L.A. riots wasn't Dan Quayle's Murphy Brown meekly backed off as soon as the Democrats took mock of­ rem.ark, despite the fun television comics had with it. People fense at the aspersions cast upon Saint Lyndon. Bill Clinton are Influenced by the art that entertains them; what happens said it was just like the Republicans to look for someone to on sitcoms is relevant to what happens to people. The notion blame - and then blamed the riots on twelve years of that one of the underlying conditions that gave rise to the Reagan/Bush "denial and neglect." riots was the breakdown of the family and that Murphy Joseph A. Califano, Jr., who was an aide to President Johnson and thus has 'a vested interest in the matter dis­ Brown's decision to raise a child with no father didn't help ~ave the situation any may be debatable, but it isn't dumb. missed the criticism, arguing that "these programs For real dumbness, we have to look to other Republicans. hope to people in difficult situations." That is actually part of The runner-up award goes to "Sonny" Bono, formerly the the Great Society critique: the programs created expectations honorable mayor of Palm Springs, currently Republican can­ that could never be fulfilled, setting up America's inner-city didate for the U.S. Senate, who observed, "The riots were the poor for great despair. Califano, now reaching for anything result ofyears offrustration. They have said it over and over, resembling a refutation of the criticism, showed how silly an 'We're frustrated, we're frustrated, we're frustrated.'" intelligent man can be by saying, "Most of the kids on the The award goes to John Seymour, the Honorable Senator streets [of L.A.] are very young, they weren't around during from California, who said, "This is the Watts Riot IT, so to the Great Society." - Sheldon L. Richman speak, only much more challenging." -R.W. Bradford Sgt Koon, sensitive guy - Less than two weeks Social physics - Boiling points: L.A. police officers after the riots, one ofthe officers whobeatRodneyKing circu­ let off a little steam every now and then, and beat up on lated the manuscriptofa book in whichhe told of shooting a blacks, Hispanics, and the occasional white guy. Black, black man. "Althoughhewas a light-skinned black, his skin Hispanic and white citizens let off a little steam now and began to take on the graypallorofdeath," recalled SgtStacey then, and beat up on each other. But the Rodney King beating Koon. As otherofficers gathered around, oneasked Koon was taped, and the public viewing of this tape set the bounds whetherhe thought the man woulddie. "Noway! You orI, of a pressure cooker. The trial put the affair on slow boil. The we'd die, butnot a Negro. They're too dumb to go into shock." verdict was supposed to release the pressure. But it was the Hedescribed his feelings aboutthe shooting: "Itwas a high." wrong verdict, and merely sealed the cauldron. With the Koon recalled his reaction to learning that the beating of riots, the thing exploded. Rodney King had been videotaped: "Great! I was to star in All of which goes to show how little understanding of the an actual in-field incident, a classic use of force ... I had be­ idea ofjustice, rough or refined, hotheads exhibit. Rough jus­ come a celebrity." Actually, Koon wrote, he was already tice would have had the riots attack directly the cops, or the something of a celebrity among police because an earlier epi­ Simi Valley jurors. But the crowds know not reason, the mob sode had been recorded on tape and been immortalized by knows justice only for its lack. When the philosophy of "just use as a training film for Los Angeles cops. In this episode, let off a little steam" permeates a culture, innocents get he had kicked a Hispanic suspect in the groin - or as he put scalded. it: "My boot came from the area of lower California and con­ Elementary physics. -Timothy Virkkala nected with the suspect's scrotum about lower Missouri. My boot stopped about Ohio, but the suspect's testicles contin­ Great Society, great riots - After the Los ued into upper Maine." Angeles riots, a great hubbub erupted over whether the may­ Koon explained that he is not a racist and does not hem demonstrated the failure of the Great Society antipover- condone police brutality. -R. W. Bradford 22 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

Pandering to the Mob by David Horowitz

DUring the riots in Los Angeles, one columnist for a local is to "understand" violence and theft as the inevitable ex­ paper confronted a family dilemma: How to explain the pressions of people who have been denied something that events to his eleven-year-old daughter. "Our problem others - for whatever reasons - have not. in dealing with [the events] was how to counter- or To "understand" the criminal behavior on display explain - scenes that reinforced stereotypes of in South Central during the Los Angeles riot is the blacks that are already prevalent in first step to forgiving it. Worse, it is a step on the American life.... Here, after all, were peo­ way to encouraging any such outburst as a nec­ ple breaking windows and stealing proper­ essary means to "wake up" society, meaning ty, beating a helpless truck driver senseless, the insensitive rest of us; it is to interpret an dancing around fires, taunting the police, L.A. attack on hard-working and low-abiding citi­ boasting of their actions to TV reporters zens as a "cry of despair" rather than to see it and otherwise behaving in ways that a Riots for what it actually is: an assault on civilized well-brought-up, middle-class child of order, and, therefore, a threat to the future of eleven is trained to avoid at all costs." And then the dilem­ all. Such "understanding" is neither compassionate nor ma: "We could try to explain things sociologically ('poverty progressive. It is nothing more than an incitement to the makes people do things they would not otherwise do and next riot. And the next. you have to understand their hunger for things they cannot The same must be said for the "political" slogan that afford') but it doesn't have much effect on children for whom started the violence, No justice, no peace. This was heard poverty and hunger are unknown experiences." most recently - and most ludicrously - at the "Save our This is certainly the response of some well-meaning lib­ Cities" rally in Washington, D.C., where it issued from the erals. But it is morally corrupt, sociologically wrong, and lips of Congresswoman Maxine Waters (from whom it has also dangerous. In the first place, it is an insult to poor peo­ been heard more than once). No justice, no peace is nothing ple and, in this case, black people, the vast majority of less than a call to criminal anarchy. whom - eighty or ninety percent - do not (and in this in­ Of course, Congresswoman Waters is hardly unique in stance did not) respond to poverty and deprivation by loot­ her zeal to legitimize criminality as justified rebellion. ing, brutalizing, murdering, and burning down the While the fires were burning, actor James Edward Olmos neighborhood. Forty percent of the rioters arrested had told innumerable television audiences that the riot remind­ criminal records before embarking on this particular out­ ed him of the Boston Tea Party and was nothing less than rage that took place in Los Angeles. The others who looted "a cry of the people." In the midst of the outrages, and destroyed were a tiny minority of the citizenry of South Princeton Professor Cornel West described the mayhem as Central. The vast majority of South Central did exactly what a "rebellion," a description that has since become politically the rest of Los Angeles did: cowered in their homes watch­ correct in circles where such niceties are observed. ing their TV sets and wondering if there would be enough Meanwhile, the L.A. Times and other papers have fea­ police with enough firepower to protect them and their tured articles describing the "Path to Recovery" with gems homes. like this: "We must abandon the LAPD's unwinnable 'war It is this fear of mayhem that is, in fact, the core reason on gangs' and offer gang youth a legitimate podium to ex­ why South Central is a depressed area. It is too dangerous to plain their proposals for social reconstruction." Sure. And open businesses there. It is dangerous even to go to school. why not poll Charles Manson for his ideas too? The most positive steps that could be taken, in the wake of Why is it that well-meaning citizens can find in their these riots, to make South Central a viable community hearts compassion and understanding for murderers and would be steps that would increase the safety and security criminals, who would as soon cut their throats as share the of its law-abiding majority, of its potential entrepreneurs time of day, yet apparently none for the vast majority of the and of its citizens who want to work. Strengthen law en­ law-abiding inhabitants of South Central who normally live forcement; disarm the criminals. This is perfectly feasible, under a reign of terror whose brutalities were on display but is not likely to happen if the official response to the riot for all to witness during the Los Angeles events? 0 Liberty 23 liThe high-beta think tank of the '90s will be the free-market libertarians at the Cato Institute." - Lawrence Kudlow, "Money Politics," March 25, 1990

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The Anti-Politics of H. Ross Perot by Chester Alan Arthur

In politics, bogus character usually beats real character. But what happens when a real character enters the race?

Why is it that the Presidency attracts such lowlifes? Look at the sorry group of people who are running. What do you see? The incumbent is a man who is no more capable of resisting the impulse to break a promise than a dog can re­ anti-incumbent and anti-politician fac­ sist a fire hydrant, and who is so re­ tors that seems almost supernatural in mote from common human morality character. Consider: that he simply cannot fathom why any­ 1. The U.S. is suffering one would be upset with him for from a serious econom­ breaking his word. ic recession. People are The nomination of the opposition out of work, incomes party is captured by a man who sys­ are down, real estate tematically misrepresented his past values are slumping. (his method of evading the draft, his 2. The U.S. econo­ experience with marijuana, his extra­ my has been in de­ marital affairs) and who quickly aban­ cline for many doned his stated principles and cozied years, beginning up to special-interest groups right and long before the re­ left. cession. The technol­ This situation is not explained by ogies and industries Acton's axiom that "powercorrupts, that enabled the U.S. absolute power corrupts absolutely." to become the richest na- These are not good men gone wrong. tion on Earth are virtually These are not men with a tragic flaw, all in decline. Who in men corrupted by the power of the their right mind presidency. These men chose careers in thinks U.S. cars politics because it is corrupt. These are are as good as men without dignity, without integrity, German or without self-respect, without honor. Japanese cars? These are men you would not want When's the last time you over to your house for dinner. saw an American-made televi- If there ever was a year that an out­ sion or VCR? American firms have ~ sider can be elected president, 1992 is even lost the domestic market for basic 3:: that year. There is a convergence of commodities like steel, clinging onto II> Liberty 25 ======.1 f Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

tion. Congresspeople enjoy a life of when most Americans are fed up with pitch to the voters is brilliant. In one privilege that other Americans cannot the corruption of a check-bouncing bold stroke, he has energized volun­ even hope for, and that most believe to Congress and a duplicitous president, teers to get to work doing one of the be actually immoral. The idea that Perot. promises something different. most difficult and expensive tasks of Congresspeople should enjoy the ser­ Decency, honesty, leadership. any political campaign, at the same vices of cut-rate hair salons subsidized Perot is a salesman, and realizes that time portraying himself as a reluctant by taxpayers is simply repulsive. The the surest way to make a sale is to sell candidate, drawn into the race by the House Bank scandal was the final himself, rather than his product. That is, demands of the public, while allowing straw. to convince the customer that he under­ him maximum credibility and publicity The disgust with politics as usual stands the customer's problems and has and running a campaign at practically was evident in the 1990 elections, when mastered the means of solving them. As no cost to himself. the Libertarian Party candidates sud­ soon as the customer has confidence in In his carefully selected speeches denly found their vote totals doubling the salesman, the sale is made. and interviews, Perot projects himself and tripling from past elections, despite This puts Perot ahead of the other as a straight-talking, honest, decent, running campaigns with less energy candidates, who have never fully real­ "can-do" man who can prOVide real and funding than in the past. ized that most people vote for a man, leadership. He answers questions in the Americans are fed up with politi- not a party, an ideology, or an agenda. finest pithy style appropriate for televi­ The normal road to success in sion sound bites, all the while denounc­ American politics is navigated by build­ ing sound-bite answers. There is none ing party contacts, pasting together po­ of the obvious evasiveness of conven­ At a time when most Amer­ sitions on issues in a way that will tional politicians, none of the rapid eye ingratiate oneself to various elements of movement as the candidate tries to fig­ icans are fed up with the the electorate and potential campaign ure an answer that will maximize his corruption ofa check-bouncing donors, honing the skills of political votes. He affects the manner of a Congress and a duplicitous campaigning, hiring the right ad agen­ straight-talking man: he looks his inter­ president, Perot promises cies and handlers, and aVOiding blatant viewer in the eye, he bristles with indig­ moral turpitude. The successful politi­ nation at imagined insults, he responds something different. Decency, cian slowly rises through the ranks of tartly and qUickly. honesty, leadership. government, looking out for the inter­ Of course, his answers are frequent­ ests of his donors, constituents and al­ ly bereft of content. He is perfectly will­ lies, seeking higher and higher ing to say that he doesn't know what to positions. do about a certain problem, reminding cians. They want something else. They The public's appreciation of his want an anti-politician. character, of his ability, of his intelli­ Descending onto this stage, as if car­ gence is a relatively minor concern. His ried on a cloud from heaven, is H. Ross handlers see to it that he has photo op­ Perot, the straight-talking Texas billion­ portunities that enable him to project Perot is a salesman, and re­ aire best known for rescuing two of his positive qualities, and his television alizes that the surest way to employees held prisoner in revolution­ spots are carefully crafted along similar make a sale is to sell himself, ary Iran. lines. But these are mere afterthoughts. rather than his product. The contrast between Perot and the And they don't fool very many voters. demented Bush and the sleazy Clinton Sure, incumbents get re-elected time is real and apparent to all. Where his and time again. But this is more the re­ opponents have spent a lifetime work­ sult of voters' natural fear of the un­ ing in government, Perot has spent a known (a new congressperson), voters' his questioner that he will assemble a lifetime in business. Where his oppo­ appreciation of his congressperson's team and study the problem and is con­ nents offer us the same old party poli­ ability to deliver specific benefits, and fident he can come up with the best an­ tics, Perot offers us politics of voters' appreciation of the fact that the swer. In an age when the public is management and leadership. Where his challenger is fundamentally the same. accustomed to evasion, this comes opponents frighten us with their eva­ So while other politicians are put­ across as refreshing frankness. sions, mendacity, and "spin-doctoring," ting together an agenda designed to While politicians and political ana­ Perot talks straight: "There won't be please c.ertain constituencies, Perot is lysts are busy digging into Perot's back­ any speechwriters or any handlers. largely ignoring most such issues. ground for dirt and chiding him for There won't be any cosmeticians. I'm While other politicians are busy doing haVing insufficiently detailed stands on not going to get all that phony stuff. politician work, Perot is busy grooming "the issues," Perot continues to gain There will be no fund-raising dinners his image with the voters. support. His appeal is not that of a poli­ where for an extra thousand bucks you His "I'll-run-for-president-and­ tician, but that of an anti-politician. His get your picture taken with me." finance-my-own-campaign-with-$100­ support comes from people in all walks So it's not surprising that Perot has million-if-you-American-people-will­ of life and both political parties, but his moved to the top of the polls. At a time put-me-on-the-ballot-in-all-50 states" volunteers are overwhelmingly people 26 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

not normally very involved in politics, when Perot begins to feel the impact of form Texas public schools, his com­ with an extraordinarily high percentage the impediments against independent mand of the Texas War on Drugs, and of small businessmen. candidates erected by the major parties. his engineering of the escape of two of When the American voter of 1992 For the past century, third-party and in­ his firm's executives from revolution­ looks at Perot he likes what he sees. dependent candidates have started ary Iran. The fact that Perot can't detail how with high hopes and good prospects, Perot is also self-righteous, egoma­ he will solve the problem of acid rain only to find their campaigns mired in naical, insensitive to others, and ambi­ and is vague about how he will make such problems as gathering signatures tious for power. His morality has America competitive in the world to get on the ballot, complying with slipped once or twice when his own doesn't bother the typical voter. Issues regulations about fundraising, trying to money was on the table, but he has gen­ like these are complicated and hard to build a campaign infrastructure, etc. erally discovered, to his delight, that figure out. But character and intelli- These impediments haven't amounted the policies that are right for his nation to an insurmountable barrier to the are also profitable for H. Ross Perot. campaigns. They have been more like a In searching for the political leader huge field of gooey mud in which the Perot most resembles, one is tempted to Perot answers questions in campaign armies must march while point to Winston Churchill or Adolph the finest pithy style appropri­ under enemy fire. The campaigns sur­ Hitler, men of similar ability to in­ vive, but only at terrific expense. In the spire others, similar self-righteousnes, ate for television sound bites, end, they emerge with a much slower similar intelligence and self-confidence, all the while denouncing gait. By the time the general election similar mastery of political imagery. sound-bite answers. comes around, they are low on cash, But these comparisons fall short on one unable to buy advertising, unable to im­ very big score: Churchill and Hitler press the media. were fundamentally politicians. Hitler But Perot's money will spare him failed at every other human activity. Churchill succeeded as a propagan­ gence are easy to recognize. Perot is these problems. He doesn't have to distic news reporter, but that was only smart, he's honest, he talks straight. build a campaign infrastructure: he can a prelude to his life's work as a Bush is dumb, and fairly honest as simply rely on his business staff. He politician. politicians go; that is to say, he doesn't doesn't have to worry about ballot ac­ Perot, as everyone knows, is an ex­ steal everything he can lay his hands cess: if the enthusiasm of his volunteers tremely successful businessman. By vir­ on, but talks like Professor Irwin Corey proves inadequate, he can spend a few tue of his intelligence, his pluck and or one's senile grandparent. Clinton is million buying signatures from profes­ smart as politicians go (Le. he is crafty sional signature-gatherers. He doesn't and skillfullyevasive), is dishonest, and have to raise funds: he can simply write talks like a snake-oil salesman. a check. This is the first mistake most politi­ Failing to understand his cians and pundits make about Perot. A True Likeness appeal, pundits' attacks on him Failing to understand his appeal, their Like any political writer, I respond­ actually endear him to voters attacks on him actually endear him to ed to Perot's rise in the polls by looking voters by proving him to be a genuine into his background, pouring over vo­ by proving him to be a genuine independent and a threat to politics as luminous press clippings, studying independent and a threat to usual. Todd Mason's excellent biography of politics as usual. They make another critical mistake him, watching his performance in when they assume that he will fade as interviews. the campaign wears on, as John The portrait of Perot that emerges is Anderson faded in the 1980 campaign. similar in many ways to the public per­ some very good luck, Perot rose from They ignore the fact that, unlike Perot, sona he has so carefully crafted. Perot is modest beginnings to be one of the Anderson was a politician. As the 1980 extremely intelligent, a "leader of world's richest men. His quest for the campaign wore on, Americans gradual­ men," and a successful entrepreneur, Presidency is from outside the world of ly came to realize that Anderson was who loves competition and hates los­ politics. just another vote-sucker, glorying in the ing. He is, in a general way, morally The political figure most like Perot, limelight, lusting after power. upright. it seems to me, is Alberto Fujimori of More importantly, they ignore the He first became famous by becom­ Peru. A successful businessman, Fuji­ fact that Perot has one advantage that ing rich, and he became rich by taking mori turned to politics and found suc­ no modern presidential candidate has on computer giant IBM with a firm con­ cess as an outsider in a nation fed up had: a personal fortune sufficient that sisting of men recruited mostly from with politics as usual. His policies seem he can spend $100 million of his own the military, and inspiring those men to a bit murky, but his personal morality money on his campaign. That is sub­ fanatical devotion to the work at hand. shines in brilliant contrast to the usual stantially more than the Democrats or He stayed famous by his quixotic at­ slime that the rewards of public life in Republicans can spend. tempts to free American POWs in Peru attracts. Whether Perot will win And that cash will come in handy Vietnam, his massive campaign to re- continued on page 32 Liberty 27 Those were exciting times, the early Panegyric seventies, when Roy and I lived in the same Hollywood apartments. I was writing my book on atheism, and Roy was writing a remarkable series of arti­ cles on "Anarchism and Justice" (pub­ Rem.em.bering lished in The Individualist). Here we were - two budding intellectuals with prima donna tendencies whose daily diet of discussion consisted of episte­ Roy Childs mology, psychology, politics, theories of sex, and much more. by H. Inflamed with the innocence and en­ George Smith thusiasm of youth, Roy and I haunted li­ braries and bookstores, attended lectures, gave lectures of our oWn, par­ ticipated in debates on anarchism, relig­ t has been nearly thirty hours since Murray Rothbard, thereby giving liber­ ion, and free will, and bugged I Andrea Rich called me with the terri­ tarians a much-needed radical alterna­ Nathaniel Branden. Roy seemed de­ ble news: Roy Childs had just died in a tive to the more conservative views of lighted when I called him "the fountain­ Florida hospital, apparently from res­ Ayn Rand. The conflict and competition head of libertarian gossip." He quizzed piratory failure. I am pleased to write between those two paradigms, the everyone on the Rand-Branden split this tribute, a welcome relief from my Randian and the Rothbardian, excited and had figured out the details of that tears. many young libertarians and inspired scandal long before they became public Roy and I were close friends for them to explore new frontiers in liber­ knowledge. twenty-one years; over the past six tarian theory. We were flat broke during those years, we talked on the phone virtually There was yet another area where years, but we didn't seem to mind. every day. He used to say that I knew Roy played a crucial role, one he was Pleasures of the mind substituted for him better than anyone else. That was a especially proud of. Through his arti­ creature comforts. Roy was happy if he great compliment, for I loved the man cles and reviews, Roy introduced a pre­ had enough money to go to the movies dearly. dominantly Objectivist audience to a and buy an occasional classical record. How does one explain Roy Childs? I broader philosophical framework, most We brought in some money by writing am tempted to answer: For friends no notably to works by Aristotelian philos­ book reviews at twenty-five dollars a explanation is necessary, for strangers ophers on epistemology and ethics. pop, which kept us in frozen dinners no explanation is possible. Roy was a Those books provided valuable intellec­ and soft drinks for a week. Roy's presence - physical, intellectual, and tual ammunition, and they helped to biggest score came when he located a emotional. To meet him once was to re­ wean many young Objectivists from bookseller who had drastically under­ member him forever. Roy was an army their cliquish, defensive attitudes. priced a first edition presentation copy of raw emotions which, as they ca­ J,5. Mill once said of Jeremy of We the Living, which Roy could resell reened and collided in his immense Bentham that he was a teacher of teach­ for a handsome profit. But there was a frame, were refined by a powerful intel­ ers. This was equally true of Roy, espe­ problem: the dealer was thirty miles lect, expressed with a rich voice and cially with me. During the early away, and Roy lacked transportation. tempered with a wry sense of humor. It seventies, Roy told me repeatedly that I Roy offered me twenty dollars if I is difficult even to imagine a skinny should branch out into fields other than would drive him on my motorcycle. 50 Roy Childs; everything about him was philosophy. He complained (with char­ we piled aboard a 250cc "two banger" bigger than life. acteristic tact) that I was "tabula rasa" Yamaha and embarked on a sixty-mile It is also difficult to imagine the li­ when it came to history, and that phi­ journey along treacherous California bertarian movement without Roy losophers who know nothing except freeways. Childs. He was a colossus who pro­ philosophy are a social menace. (He be­ With Roy as my constant compan­ foundly influenced the early move­ lieved the same was true of economists ion, I had a perpetual source of free en­ ment. Those who know of Roy only and other specialists.) Libertarianism tertainment. I often urged Roy to repeat through his book reviews should read would never progress without interdis­ his best routines for young fans, who some of his early work on anarchism ciplinary scholars. Therefore, Roy asked would double-up with laughter as he and political theory. Those articles re­ rhetorically, why didn't I become one? acted out the role of a disturbed Donald veal a mind of astonishing brilliance Did I want to remain a boy Objectivist Duck (complete with an authentic and depth, a mind fueled by a passion for the rest of my life? voice) who was doing "sentence com­ for ideas and a love of liberty. I took Roy's advice to heart, and for pletion" in group therapy. ("Mother Aside from his original contribu­ the next eight years I devoted myself al­ was always sitting on me. Mother tions, Roy played a crucial role in the most exclusively to history. Roy didn't was always dunking me in water.") early movement. He disseminated and always give good advice, but when it Or Roy might deliver his famous speech popularized the anarchistic ideas of was good, itwas very good. continued on page 37 28 Liberty Report

Serve the Children Well by Stuart Reges

David and Ginger Twitchell don't believe in disease. The government does. Does it have the right to tell them how to treat their child - or to treat them as criminals if they turn out to be wrong?

Everyone agrees that on April 8, 1986, two-year-old Robin Twitchell died in his father's arms. The rest of the story is subject to debate. Most people accept the autopsy report that Robin Twitchell died of a bowel obstruction caused by a congenital birth defect. But because Robin's parents, David and Ginger Twitchell, are Chris- tian Scientists, they would instead say that Robin was a perfect spiritual About eight months after their baby at the Twitchell residence and had being - the II image and likeness," had died, the district attorney asked never examined Robin Twitchell's as the Bible says, of a perfect spiritual them to come in and discuss the inci­ body. God - and as such, was not suscepti­ dent. They did not hire a lawyer to ad­ There is also disagreement about ble to bodily defects. Any manifesta­ vise them and answered all questions what would have happened if the tion of physical disease was therefore that were put to them. A year later they Twitchells had turned to medicine. an "error" that could be corrected were indicted by a grand jury for Prosecution witnesses claimed that the through prayer. manslaughter. condition is easily diagnosed with an The government came down on the When they went on trial two years x-ray and correctible through surgery. side of medicine. Because the later, David Twitchell again agreed to Defense witnesses countered that the Twitchells did not seek medical atten­ answer all questions. The prosecution condition is often misdiagnosed and tion for Robin, they were indicted for put great weight on what he saw as in­ that surgery is not free of risk. manslaughter and tried by a jury of consistencies in David Twitchell's re­ Potential jurors were asked about their peers. ligious convictions. David testified that their religious beliefs and the prosecu­ Five years ago, Robin Twitchell he had once sought the help of a den­ tion managed to have barred from the came down with flu-like symptoms tist for a toothache that he couldn't jury anyone who claimed to believe in (fever and vomiting). Just as other par­ cure through prayer and had allowed spiritual healing. In fact, the prosecu­ ents might seek the advice and assis­ the dentist to administer novocaine. tion seemed to distrust all Protestants tance of a doctor, the Twitchells sought David also testified that if he had be­ and managed to produce a jury com­ the advice and assistance of a Christian lieved that his son's condition was seri­ posed almost entirely of Catholics and Science "practitioner," a church mem­ ously life-threatening, he would have atheists. There has always been tension ber whose profession is to facilitate the sought medical care. between Catholics and Christian spiritual healing process. Both the The Twitchells' account was disput­ Scientists, especially in Boston, the pre­ Twitchells and the practitioner claim ed by neighbors who claimed to have dominantly Roman Catholic home to that Robin had some ups and downs, heard the baby "moaning in pain" and the international headquarters of and that he showed signs of recovery by doctors who were convinced that Christian Science. To Christian the day he died. They never believed the baby must have displayed extreme­ Scientists, the trial seemed like nothing that his illness was serious enough to ly serious symptoms on the day he more than a political attack by the Irish cause death. died, even though they weren't present Catholic district attorney of Boston Liberty 29 Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

against their church. Twitchells had not, and found them birth defect and you consent to the sur­ Curiously, the Twitchells were guilty of manslaughter. Several jurors gery. Unfortunately, the child dies. You never charged with child abuse or ne­ wept when the verdict was read. One believe that you are at no risk legally glect. Massachusetts, like forty-two juror was so angry by the instructions because a group of people like yourself other states and the federal government given by the judge that she wrote an ex­ who believed in the efficacy of medi­ itself, has a special spiritual healing ex­ tensive article about it for a Christian cine had convinced the legislature to emption in their child abuse/neglect Science publication. The juror had pass a law exempting parents who law. The 1971 law says that a child is wanted to acquit the Twitchells and relied solely on medicine from charges not the victim of neglect "for the sole was angry at the judge for wasting two of neglect and abuse. reason that he is being provided reme­ months of her time only to tum around But the community is outraged. dial treatment by spiritual means alone and give instructions that guaranteed a They admit that in a free society people in accordance with the tenets and prac­ guilty verdict. with unusual beliefs should be granted tices of a recognized church." The The Twitchells were sentenced to some leeway in acting on those beliefs, ten years probation, an indication that and there are many who believe, al­ this was no ordinary manslaughter trial though obviously not as strongly as but, rather, a political event designed to you, that sometimes medicine does The trial seemed like noth­ send a message to Christian Science work. But they are outraged that you ing more than a political attack parents. It was a costly message, setting relied solely on medicine. Why didn't the taxpayers of Massachusetts back you pray? And even if you were so by the Irish Catholic district at­ over one million dollars. stubborn that you wouldn't pray your­ torney of Boston against the As a requirement of their probation, self, why didn't you call in a spiritual Christian Science church. the Twitchells must check in with a pro­ practitioner to help the child, as every­ bation officer twice a month and take body else does? their three other children for regular ex­ You are brought up on charges of aminations by a doctor. The conviction manslaughter because you relied solely on medicine and did not tum to prayer, Twitchells knew about this law and be­ also cost David Twitchell his adminis­ or even a combination of medicine and lieved that it gave them the legal right trative job at a Christian Science sana­ prayer. At your trial, anyone who ex- to treat their children with prayer rath­ torium. Medicare makes payments to er than medicine. The prosecuting at­ Christian Science sanitoriums, just as torney also knew about this law, so he they do to hospitals. But federal regula­ charged the Twitchells with man­ tions would not allow the sanitorium at slaughter instead. In their trial, the which David Twitchell worked to con­ Several jurors wept when the judge refused to allow the jury to hear tinue to receive federal funding if he verdict was read. One juror had about the existence of this law or the continued in the post he held there, be­ wanted to acquit the Twitchells manner in which it affected the cause he is a convicted felon on proba­ Twitchells' decision-making. The judge tion. It may seem odd that the federal and was angry at the judge for claimed that it was irrelevant because government subsidizes a Christian wasting two months ofher time the Twitchells were not charged with Science facility with Medicare funds, only to turn around and give child abuse/neglect, and it might preju­ but the legal precedent is actually quite dice the jury in favor of the Twitchells. common. Many state Medicaid pro­ instructions that guaranteed a In giving instructions to the jury, the grams and most large insurers reim­ guilty verdict. judge seemed to deny the law entirely. burse Christian Science practitioners as She instructed the jury that parents they do doctors, and state and federal must provide "all necessary and proper tax laws allow Christian Scientists to physical care" and may not rely exclu­ deduct payments made to practitioners presses even a limited belief in the effi­ sively on spiritual healing if it would as medical expenses. cacy of medicine is barred from the jury expose a child to risk of serious injury and the judge does not allow you to ex­ or death. Three times dUring their de­ Comparisons plain to the jury your belief that the liberations the jury asked for a clarifica­ To understand the implications of medical exemption to the child abuse/ tion of the state's manslaughter law, the Twitchell case, consider the follow­ neglect law gave you the legal right to which requires a finding that the defen­ ing case. rely solely on medicine in treating your dant showed a "reckless and wanton Imagine that you are a believer in child. The prosecuting attorney thinks disregard for human life," but the judge medicine who lives in a predominantly it highly relevant that you had prayed maintained that the only question for Christian Science society where most once when medicine did not seems to the jury to decide was whether or not people use prayer to treat disease. solve a toothache you had. Even so, the the Twitchells had provided all neces­ Suppose that you have a child who ap­ jury seems to believe that you are a sary and proper physical care for pears sick and you, not believing in the kind and loving parent and seem to Robin. Not surprisingly, the jury mem­ power of prayer, seek medical care. want to acquit you, but the judge says bers, none of whom believed in spiritu­ Your doctor says that the child needs that parents are required to give "all al healing, concluded that the an operation to correct a congenital necessary and proper spiritual care" 30 Liberty Why isn't everybody a libertarian?

Why aren't people breaking couldn't take 'Yes' for an answer. Macho Flash were published by >- Leveraging Liberty With Lan­ down doors tojointhe Libertarian My campaign taught me how to Reason. guage: the semantics of liber­ Movement? lose friends and alienate people. I followed these with more arti­ tarian persuasion. When you explain libertarian Finally, it sunk in. My problem cles: The Militant Mentality, The );> Intellectual Judo: gently win ideas, why aren't people dropping wasn't other people. It was the Myth OfMushrooms In The Night, people over without arguing. to their knees and protesting, "All man in the mirror. Me. LeveragingLibertyWithLanguage >- And many more easy, enjoy­ mylife, withopenarms, I've waited and Intellectual Judo. able andeffective waystomake for you and your message. How do Do You Lose Friends And Thelibertarianaudiencewanted libertarian ideas irresistible. I join? When's the next meeting? Alienate People? more, so I launched a seminar. Isthere a limittohowmuchmoney The Art Of Political Persuasion Does It Really Work? I can give?" Some libertarians have a more­ Marathon Weekend Workshop has rational-than-thou attitude. Or been offered all over the United "The Essence of Political Per­ Is Something Wrong With smarter-than-thou. Or more­ States and Canada. suasion is bold, imaginative and Your Libertarian Ideas? principled-than-thou. Or more­ Then, I tested my teachings in brilliant. It is the most innovative ethical-than-thou. the field. I was the organizer and and effective program ofits kind." You be the judge. Are your 'discussions' really lec­ fund-raiserfor the 1988Marrou VP Andre Marrou, 1992 Libertar­ Re-examine the political and tures? Do you try to convince by Campaign, Project 51-'92 ballot ian Party presidential nominee. economic ideas of Rand and Von beating the other person into sub­ effort and the 1992 Marrou For Mises, Friedman and Rothbard, mission? Do you behave like a tor­ PresidentCampaign. 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Leafthrough Reason, LPNews, Failure is feedback. It's telling Freedom Network News, and The you to do something different. What You'll Learn In Only "Michael Emerling's political Pragmatist. The people you don't convince Three Hours. persuasiontapesaresuperb. I have Or this issue ofLiberty. are showing you what does not listened to them many times. I Needmore proof? Compareyour work. Are you paying attention? >- How to influence with integ­ continue to be impressed by the libertarianideastothestatistideas The marketplace ofideas works rity. power and sophistication of his you read in the newspapers and justlikethefree market. Consumer );> Open the door with rapport. techniques." magazines. To those you see on response is a teacher. Are you >- From confrontation to conver­ Vince Miller, President ofInter­ television. Liberal and conserva­ learning? sation. national Society For Individual tive, socialist and fascist, totali­ );> The powerofmetaphors, para­ Liberty (LS.LL.). tarian and populist. The Art Of Political bles and teaching tales. Not even close, is it? Liberty Persuasion. >- Political Cross-Dressing: how "I have a set of these political wins hands down. to get converts from the liberal persuasion tapes. I had to learn it I felt stupidandembarrassedby leftandthe conservative right. before I could teach it. Thank you "You Libertarians have a 24 my campaign in 1976. But I was );> The Late, Great Libertarian very much, Michael Emerling." carat gold idea-freedom­ determined to salvage something Macho Flash: abuses and uses Marshall Fritz, founder of Ad­ and you can't even give it from my experience. I wanted to ofintellectual shock tactics. vocates For Self-Government away.Everaskyourselfwhy?" learn the art of political persua­ ~------I Congressman Sam Steiger, 1976 sion. FREE BONUS TAPE WITH THIS OFFER I began to read. It's now over o Yes! Send me The Essence OfPolitical Persuasion Audio Tape Program for In 1976, I was the Arizona Lib­ 1,000 books on psychology, episte­ only $29.95 and the free bonus tape-an added $10.00 value-Emerling's ertarian Party's candidate for the mology, semantics, salesmanship, The Missing Factor In The Libertarian Equation: Self-Responsibility. congressional seat held by Morris cybernetics, self-help, hypnosis, 6o-Day Trial Period Udall. communication and creativity. If, within 60 days, I am not completelysatisfied I lectured people who weren't I interviewedspecialistsincom­ name interested. I debatedwhenI should munications and persuasion. I withthe Tape Program, I will return it to you for have discussed. I talked when I asked questions and took notes. a full refund ofthe pur­ shouldhavelistened. I talkeddown I applied the scientific method address chase price. And I can to everyone. to everything I learned. I tested keep the bonus tape as Ifthere was an offensive, shock­ every approach, technique and a free gift. city ingwayofpresentinga libertarian format. I observed and listened. Michael Emerling position-I used it. I began to write up my results. Box 28368 Every so often, people would try How To Get Converts Left & Right state/zip L Las Vegas NV 89126 to agree, but I didn't notice. I and The Late, Great Libertarian L ~ Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

and may not rely exclusively on medi­ edy is to pray to God to be merciful. the measures that they think are most cine if it would expose a child to risk of Christian Scientists resist this approach likely to make their child well. serious injury or death. The jury, com­ because it is antithetical to their relig­ A pediatrician and medical ethicist posed solely of people who believe that ious beliefs. Christian Scientists believe at Boston University, applauding the prayer and not medicine is the way to that there is no reality to disease. They be­ Twitchells' conviction, said, "No relig­ heal the sick, feel compelled to find you lieve that healing is achieved by realiz­ ion is going to be allowed to be a de­ guilty. ing the falsehood of the suggestion that fense against abuse and neglect." The American Academy of Pediatrics is Questions seeking the repeal of spiritual healing The Twitchell case raises interesting exemptions. If these efforts succeed, questions. Do parents like the so Christian Science parents will face a dif­ Twitchells have the right to turn to Are we sure of medicine ficult dilemma: the law (which their re­ prayer exclusively for healing their chil­ that we can force it on parents ligion demands they obey) will require dren or does society have a responsibili­ who don't believe in its effica­ them to seek medical treatment for their ty to protect children like Robin cy? so, should parents be re­ children. Most hospitals, however, re­ Twitchell? Are we so sure of medicine If quire that parents sign a consent form that we can force it on parents who quired to follow the advice of intended to shield the institution from a don't believe in its efficacy? say, child psychologists, even if lawsuit. These forms often require the Ifso, which branches of medicine do they think that the psycholo­ parents to affirm that they realize medi­ we deem irrefutable and therefore man­ cine is an inexact science and that the datory? Are parents required, for exam­ gists' theories are invalid? treatment is not in any way guaranteed. ple, to follow the advice of child Thus, Christian Scientists will find psychologists even if they think that the themselves legally required to submit psychologists' theories are invalid? their children for care to people whose Many people seemed to think that a limitless spiritual being can be limit­ practices they don't believe in and will the Twitchells should have used both ed by a defective material body. To ac­ additionally be required to release those prayer and medicine, to hedge their cept the possibility that the medicine or individuals from blame for an undesira­ bets, so to speak. Dr Norman Fost, for operation might work makes spiritual ble outcome. example, who chairs the American healing impossible. They further be­ There is a fundamental question that Academy of Pediatrics committee on bi­ lieve that their own experience and the underlies the Twitchell case: What is the oethics said, "The academy is very sup­ experience of other Christian Scientists appropriate balance between parental and portive of the role of religion in family offer evidence that they are less afflict­ social decision-making when it comes to life and health care. However, there are ed with pain and disease than are those rearing children? There may indeed be some conditions for which prayer plus who rely on medicine. times when it is appropriate for the gov­ antibiotics will do a lot more than Christian Science parents who turn ernment to intervene on the behalf of a prayer alone." to prayer rather than medicine in treat­ child, but there are good reasons to Christian Scientists turn away from ing their sick child are no less loving maximize parents' lattitude. Int€1"• medicine not because they have some than other parents. They have no desire vention can lead to as many or more stoic notion that disease is something to to see their children martyred for their dangers as nonintervention can, dan­ be endured as the inevitable will of religion. They are simply doing what gers that become strikingly evident in God, and that the only appropriate rem- all the other parents are· doing, taking the case of the Twitchells. 0

Arthur, "H. Ross Perot," continued from page 27

the presidency as easily as did Fujimori port Slick Willy than Dumb George. But most votes for LP presidential remains to be seen. Americans are far But the race is still in its early stages, nominees don't come from ideological less desperate and far more reluctant to and that will change. libertarians. They come from people change than were Peruvians. One things seems sure, though. He pissed off at the system and unsatisfied will hurt the candidacy of Libertarian with the alternatives offered by the The Race Is On Party nominee Andre Marrou. I don't major parties. Perot should capture this With Perot in the race, the 1992 elec­ mean to suggest that he will appeal to vote easily. tion promises to be one of the most ex­ libertarians - his support for· a busi­ Perot has already stirred up the citing and interesting of the century. It ness-government partnership, more soup in the American political cauldron seems likely that he will get a lot of spending on state schools, gun control, more than any libertarian ever has. And votes, and he has a modest chance of compulsory national service, and sus­ conditions are right for Perot to do very winning. But it is not clear at all which pension of civil liberties will likely well in his bid for the Presidency. of the major parties' nominees he will overcome most libertarians' natural ten­ Whether Perot can take advantage of harm more. So far, it seems that most of dency to prefer a businessman over a his opportunity remains to be seen, but his supporters would more likely sup- politician. to date he has played his cards right. 0 32 Liberty Diplomacy

Libertarians and Christians in a Hostile World by Doug Bandow

The spirit of the age is both secular and statist. Libertarians and Christians often rub each other the wrongway. But there may be good reasons for a truce ... or even an alliance.

While there is nothing in principle to cause libertarianism, a political philoso­ phy, and Christianity, a worldview regarding one's relation to God and one's neighbors, to conflict, in practice there has been substantial friction on both sides. Although libertarians and theologically con­ servative Christians have often found themselves on the same side of eco­ nomic and fiscal issues, they have al­ drug users - unrepentant sinners in political philosophy regarding the re­ ways been uneasy allies at best. the eyes of many Christians. Although lationship of man and state, not man Indeed, on social policy - abortion, libertarians have neither pushed legis­ and God. Similarly, while many drugs, pornography, "morals" legisla­ lation to prevent people from not asso­ Christians believe the government tion in general - their differences ciating with homosexuals nor should enforce God's moral law, there seem irreconcilable. endorsed drug use, their tolerance of is nothing Biblical about using coer- One reason for this lies in modern open sin has rankled Christians who cion to enforce the Ten libertarianism's origins as a reaction believe such actions conflict with Commandments and Christ's direc­ tives. The conflict between the two against oppressive state structures that God's transcendent moral law. perspectives reflects not their funda­ had been buttressed by organized re­ At the same time, many libertari­ mentals but their application. ligion. Another is that many seminal ans have been offended by the appar­ Thus, some activists on both sides libertarian thinkers have not been ent readiness of many Christians to have come to recognize that their Christians. Classical liberalism, for in­ use the law to buttress faith when peo­ ple do not respond voluntarily. When areas of agreement are greater than stance, grew out of the Enlightenment, those of their disagreements. The re­ and many of its adherents were deists preaching didn't stop gambling, churches supported a government sult has been a growing dialogue be­ or atheists. More recently, Ayn Rand ban. When homosexuality persisted tween conservative Christians and and her Objectivist movement have despite America's formally Christian secular libertarians. In fact, despite promoted both limited government culture, the believers wanted the cops some misgivings, the Libertarian Party and atheism. In fact, Rand, who is still to arrest gays. In this way, many liber­ nominated former congressman Ron revered by many libertarians, consid­ tarians came to see Christians as ene­ Paul, a pro-life Christian, for the presi­ ered religion to be wholly irrational. mies of freedom. dency in 1988. We should hope that Furthermore, libertarianism, unlike such efforts at a rapprochement will ex­ conservatism, has never emphasized Unlikely Allies pand in the future. Surely the two traditional values. To the contrary, it Yet the imagined battle between sides can work together to build a has proved a refuge for those seeking libertines and puritans reflects stereo­ freer and more virtuous society, one in to avoid persecution by the state, espe­ types on both sides. Although many li­ which religious believers can promote cially for "moral" offenses. Thus, liber­ bertarians do believe in "moral their moral values and live their faiths tarianism has attracted many gays and diversity," libertarianism is merely a unhindered by the state while tolerat- Liberty 33 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

ing sin amongst their neighbors, while Secular liberals, because they believe in institutions in response to social prob­ libertarians, though not held by law to neither transcendent moral law nor in­ lems .. One need .. not share the moral Biblical moral standards, can better un­ dividual freedom, are unlikely to premise that homosexuality is right or derstand and respect the convictions of prove solid friends of Christians or li­ wrong, for instance, to agree that cops Christians. bertarians. Their occasional support for should not be arresting people in their one position or another will always bedrooms for sexual activities. Rapprochement Reasons for give way to an agenda that is over­ Among the most important social Neither Christians nor libertarians whelmingly statist and secular. Several issues in contemporary America are have the luxury of treating potential al­ different groups of Christians - par­ abortion, child care, drugs, education, lies as adversaries. The hold of ticularly Protestant evangelicals and pornography, sex, and welfare. In all Christianity on American culture is conservative Catholics - have fre­ of these areas there is room for greater waning: although virtually everyone quently made common cause with con­ understanding and cooperation among still proclaims a belief in God, most servatives, but that alliance has libertarians and Christians. people's behavior reflects only limited produced little fruit; the same is true of adherence to the traditional Judeo­ Abortion many alliances between mainstream Christian moral code. And the state is There is probably no more divisive conservatives and libertarians. Many increasingly antagonistic to Christian issue today than abortion. Indeed, it is conservative activists, despite their institutions and beliefs - requiring a an issue that splits both Christians and verbal support for both traditional val­ libertarians. The majority of the more ues and individual liberty, are as secu­ theologically conservative Christians, larized and authoritarian as their particularly evangelicals and Catholics, On social policy - abor­ liberal counterparts. How else to ex­ are "pro-life" (as am I, in the interest of plain the very small practical differenc­ full disclosure). In contrast, the majori­ tion, drugs, pornography, u mo­ es between Democrats and RepUblicans ty of libertarians are "pro-choice," rals" legislation in general ­ on domestic, international, and social though there is an active Libertarians issues? for Life organization headed by an the differences between liber­ Thus, Christians and libertarians tarians and Christians seem atheist. need not only to talk to one another, There is no one scripture that irreconcilabIe. but to work together on issues of mu­ speaks to abortion; however, the Bible tual interest. Their overall worldviews does make it clear that life is sacred, in­ will remain sharply different, but they cluding the child resulting from con­ can coalesce when it comes to limiting ception, who is considered to be a gift Catholic university to fund gay groups, state power. from God (Genesis 4:1). As such, a interfering with church discipline of er­ All Christians and libertarians compelling reason should. be required rant members, barring the operation of should agree on the need to protect re­ to justify killing the unborn. In the Christian schools, funding sacrilegious ligious liberty. Many Christians - at view of some Christians and many li­ art, and so on. least those who consider themselves to bertarians, the liberty/ privacy interest While libertarians with less tradi­ be "conservative" today - and all li­ ofthe woman provides such a justifica­ tional moral beliefs may feel somewhat bertarians can join to oppose expan­ tion, leading to a legal, if not moral, more comfortable today, they, too, are sion of governmental intervention in right to abortion. Indeed, many of losing the larger war. The government the economy. On foreign policy these abortion rights advocates would continues to expand; individual liberty Christians are more fractured, with a argue that abortion is morally wrong, continues to shrink. And state interfer­ more "liberal" minority closer to the li­ but nevertheless should not be pro­ ence is actually increasing in some bertarian position. The most serious scribed by the state. The pro-life coun­ areas of moral regulation, such as drug differences, however, occur in ques­ ter is two-fold: first, that there is use. Indeed, a supposedly conservative tions of social policy. another life involved which, since it Christian president has offended both If social policy becomes a debate cannot assert its own right to life, must libertarians and religious believers by over values, the gulf between conser­ be protected by the state; second, that supporting higher taxes, new spending vative Christians and (secular) liber­ the parents,by voluntarily engaging in programs, continued funding for the tarians will be unbridgeable. The the act that leads to pregnancy, do not National Endowment for the Arts, and former believe that God has estab­ have a right to terminate the life. (Such the drug war. lished timeless guidelines for personal consent is obviously lacking in the case Since both groups seem to be losing behavior. Many of the latter believe of rape.) what James Davidson Hunter calls the morality to be a matter of personal While the conservative Christian "culture war" - a Christian, of course, choice, so long as it doesn't violate the and majority libertarian positions obvi­ does not believe that God will ulti­ rights of others. ously cannot be harmonized, they can mately lose, but would still like to However, there is room for cooper­ at least be understood, and they need bring the world into closer conformity ation if the issues are treated as issues not make an alliance between the two with godly standards - it is impera­ of policy, that is, as the actions that groups on other issues impossible. Pro­ tive that each search out new allies. should be taken by the various political life Christians can recognize the impor- 34 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 luI 1992

tance of freedom even while believing to reduce their expense and intru­ sumption? Although the civil and eccle­ that the state must intervene to protect siveness. siastical authorities were closely related the unborn; libertarians can acknowl­ in ancient Israel, they were separated edge the importance of the life of the Drugs well before the time of Jesus and re­ unborn even while emphasizing the The drug issue hosts another sharp main so today. In fact, the model of the liberty of the woman and the difficul­ clash between the perceived positions first-century church is a community fo­ ties in banning abortion. Moreover, li­ of Christians and libertarians. cused on enforcing Biblical rules on its bertarian support for voluntary action Christians generally believe the use of own members, not on those outside the complements the efforts of churches drugs to be a sin that is undermining fellowship. Thus, when Paul learned and other Christian ministries to create society. Libertarians consider laws that a member of the Corinthian church counseling services and support struc­ against drug use to be an intolerant in­ was involved in serious immorality, he tures for unwed mothers to allow them terference with personal liberty, caus­ did not urge the group to lobby for civil to keep their babies. ing more harm than good. Can these positions be reconciled? Child Care The Bible certainly warns against Christians hold the upbringing of the abuse of drugs. One of "the acts of One need not share the children to be fundamentally a paren­ the sinful nature," wrote Paul, is tal responsibility; for philosophical "drunkenness" (Gal. 5:20). And Peter moral premise that homosexu­ rather than theological reasons, secular directed his readers not to live as the ality is right or wrong, for in­ libertarians believe the same thing. pagans, "in debauchery, lust, drunken­ stance, to agree that cops (Some libertarians, a decided minority, ness, orgies, carousing, and detestable should not be arresting people would endow kids with adult rights, idolatry" (1 Peter 4:3). Moreover, Paul allOWing them to "divorce" their par­ instructed believers to "honor God in their bedrooms for sexual ents.) Thus, both groups can unite to with your body" (1 Cor. 6:20), which activities. oppose government day-care initia­ he earlier described as "God's temple," tives. Such programs favor secular a "sacred" vessel in which the Holy over religious providers; subsidize Spirit lives. "If anyone destroys God's working women to the detriment of temple, God will destroy him." (1 Cor. legislation, but instead instructed his mothers who choose to stay home; 3:16-17). readers: promote institutional day care over ba­ This suggests that people are nei­ I have written you in my letter not bysitting by friends, relatives, and ther to use licit substances, such as al­ to associate with sexually immoral neighbors; and create regulatory sys- cohol, to excess, nor use other products people - not at all meaning the peo­ that pose a high risk of harming their ple of this world who are immoral, or bodies. It is hard to set clear rules on the greedy and swindlers, or idolat­ ers. In that case you would have to this basis because not all drugs are leave this world. But now I am writ­ created equal: moderate use of cigar­ Many libertarians have been ing you that you must not associate offended by the apparent readi­ ettes, which kill 430,000 people a year, with anyone who calls himself a ness of many Christians to use is probably more dangerous than ei­ brother but is sexually immoral or ther social drinking or occasional use greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a the law to buttress faith when of marijuana. The physiological conse­ drunkard or a swindler. With such people do not respond volun­ quences of pure heroin, in contrast to men do not even eat. the adulterated substances sold in the What business is it of mine to judge tarily. illegal market, are actually minor; the those outside the Church? Are you drug's real danger is its addictiveness. not to judge those inside? God will By contrast, PCP, synthetic heroin, and judge those outside. "Expel the terns designed to emphasize govern­ a variety of other substances clearly wicked man from among you." (1 ment rather than family values. harm the body. At the same time, most Cor. 5:9-13) Some Christians might still back Christians probably believe they have Thus, while there is nothing to prohibit public subsidies for day care if they a separate obligation not to take illegal Christians from supporting anti-drug did not discriminate against religious substances, even those that may be rel­ legislation, there is nothing that man­ facilities and came without "strings." atively safe, because believers are to re­ dates they do so. It is more a matter of (There is no scriptural mandate for spect authority and must be concerned reason than revelation. such a program, of course.) about preserving the purity of their On these issues, then, Christians Libertarians, in contrast, would oppose witness. and libertarians can open a dialogue. Is any subsidy program, although some But the fact that Christians believe it right for people who oppose drug use might support an expanded tax credit/ they are not to use illegal drugs - or to use government to jail those who use deduction for day care. Nevertheless, perhaps legal drugs, for that matter ­ drugs? Although the Bible sets stan­ to the extent that proposals for new does not settle the policy question at dards for personal conduct, it does not programs are advanced, Christians hand: Should the government prohibit specify when the state is empowered to and libertarians could work together drug use, as it once did alcohol con- intervene to IIbring punishment on the Liberty 35 Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

wrongdoer," in Paul's words (Rom. schools, there is room for compromise. ally assaulted by pornographic adver­ 13:4). In my view, the best understand­ Christians can recognize that with pub­ tising while walking in a public place, ing of this phrase, especially in the con­ lic institutions paid for by all taxpay­ and many libertarians would go along text of his instruction to the Corinthian ers, including non-Christians (and with restrictions on the public display believers, is to punish those who com­ homosexuals), they will not be able to of sexually explicit material. Similarly, mit crimes against other people, rather enforce Christian morality. (Which, of Christians and most libertarians can than those who transgress God's moral course, is a fundamental flaw in the agree on the importance of protecting law. public schools from their perspective.) minors from being used in por:ro­ Does drug use involve wrongs Thus, trying to bar gays as teachers, or graphic films and from acquiring por­ against other individuals? Drug use impose Christian prayers in a secular nographic materials. And libertarians, classroom, will naturally result in resis­ who oppose such government agencies tance from non-Christians. Liber­ as the National Endowment for the tarians, on the other hand, can recog­ Arts altogether, have joined with Although the Bible sets nize that the question is not whether Christians in opposing public funding standards for personal conduct, values should be taught in the class­ for obscene art. it does not specify when the room, but which ones. At the very least, Libertarians are unalterably op­ state is empowered to "bring libertarians could support an educa­ posed to using government to keep tional process that provides for fair pornography out of the hands of con­ punishment on the wrong­ treatment of religion in history classes senting adults. Christians might con­ doer." and extracurricular activities, such as sider and accept the libertarian the open access law. Moreover, they arguments. Christians should require a could be more tolerant of the use of stronger justification for turning to the harmless religious symbols, since state than the revulsion they naturally obviously has a social impact, but the Christians, whose tax money is also feel at obscenity. And, in my view, the impact of drug prohibition appears to going to fund the schools, understand­ traditional rationales for arresting be even more harmful. The full argu­ ably feel disenfranchised when their someone for looking at dirty pictures ment is obviously beyond the scope of values are deliberately purged. are too weak. Some people argue that this article, but a good case can be pornography is accelerating the de­ made that prohibition is a disaster, Pornography cline of society. Yet the availability of having funded violent criminal em­ For conservative Christians, the obscene materials is more a result than pires at home. and abroad, resulted in making and use of pornography is sin­ a cause of declining moral standards. an enormous increase in murder and ful. The Apostle Peter criticized those Indeed, perhaps the most insidious property crime, sucked kids into the who, "by appealing to the lustful de- pornographic phenomenon today is drug culture and criminal gangs, . sires of sinful human nature," mislead pervasive soft-core porn on TV, not spread AIDS, and made drug-taking others (2 Peter 2:18). Similarly, Paul more dangerous. While a secular liber­ hard-core obscenity in movies and wrote that God gave those who reject­ magazines, which most Americans tarian who believes he has an absolute ed him "over to shameful lusts" (Rom. right to take drugs will disagree on reject. 1:26). Some people have also contended basic premises with a Christian who Thus, Christians have a responsibil­ believes he has a godly responsibility that porn promotes sex crimes. ity within their families and fellow­ However, it is important not to con­ to eschew drug use, they may never­ ships to discourage the use of theless agree that, as a matter of social fuse correlation (those who commit sex pornography. They also can play a crimes also like porn) with causation policy, legalization would be at least prophetic role to the surrounding com­ less costly than prohibition. (porn causes them to commit sex munity, including such activism as crimes). In fact, the best evidence ap­ Education boycotts and protests, in an attempt to pears to be that the depiction of vio­ Although Christians and libertari­ influence the purveyors of pornogra­ lence may encourage some people to ans have tangled over tangential edu­ phy. As with drugs, however, there is commit violent crimes, while porn is cational issues, such as gay teachers no Biblical mandate for civil govern­ largely passive. On this basis we seem and school prayer, they agree on far ment to ban the production or use of to have more to fear from Freddy more fundamental matters, such as the sexually explicit material. Paul's letter Krueger than Hugh Hefner. importance of parental control of edu­ to the Corinthian church suggests that cation. Thus, both groups should be the community of faith is to be more Sex able to work together to promote tui­ concerned with the activities of those The Bible sets up a clear moral code tion tax credits, vouchers, and school within than those without tl-e for personal sexual behavior: sex be­ choice, in order to reduce the monopo­ fellowship. longs within the covenant of marriage. ly advantages of the public schools With explicit Biblical direction on Based on their personal behavior, most and increase parents' abilities to send the issue absent, Christians must again libertarians, like most people in gener­ their children to private schools. rely more on reason than on revela­ al, do not believe in such a code. As for the operation of the public tion. They can demand not to be visu- Nevertheless, it is possible for 36 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

Christians and libertarians to work to­ welfare: its promotion of family break­ ent, but, despite the popular wisdom, gether in this area. For instance, both up, illegitimacy, and dependency. not necessarily· contradictory. Christi­ groups can oppose legislation that The Bible commands Christians to ans believe in a personal God who has would force people to accept diverse give, but individually, or through fami­ revealed himself and established very sexual behavior, such as ordinances ly and church. Government is not men­ clear standards by which men are to re­ that require people to hire or rent to tioned. Although there is no Scriptural late to him and each other. However, homosexuals and housing codes that proseription barring the creation of a the circumstances under which people order people to sell or rent to unmar­ public welfare system, Christians must are to coerce other people through the ried couples. be wary of establishing Widespread power of the State are left largely unde­ As for laws against non-marital transfer programs given the eighth and fined. And it is here where libertarians sex, even Christians today seem reluc­ tenth commandments against stealing concern themselves. Although some li­ tant to bring the bedroom into court. and coveting. Moreover, any such pro- bertarians are atheists, their religious Libertarians might support a ban on beliefs can be separated from their po­ sex in public places, but would oppose litical principles, which limit the right anti-sodomy laws (many of which also of individuals to initiate the use of apply to heterosexuals) and criminal As for laws against non­ force against one another. sanctions against adultery and fornica­ marital sex, even Christians Under these circumstances, a per­ tion, which are still occasionally en­ today seem reluctant to bring son can be both a Christian and a liber­ forced in some states. Despite their tarian. I am such an individual. My belief that such activities violate the bedroom into court. Christian faith is transcendent, but be­ Biblical norms, Christians could right­ cause, in my view, there is no explicit ly take the same position, since God Christian political system, my faith only informs, rather than sets, my polit­ has not appointed them to enforce his gram should be consistent with other ical positions. Even Christians who are law on their unwilling neighbors. To Biblical values, which in this case com­ not libertarians and libertarians who the contrary, it is Christ who will plement libertarianism: the importance are not Christians have many opportu­ wield the winnowing fork and separ­ of work, individual responsibility, and nities to cooperate on protecting ate the wheat from the chaff at the the family. In short, both Christians religious freedom, restricting state ex­ time of the final judgment (Luke 3:17, and libertarians would emphasize vol­ pansion, encouraging private educa­ Matt. 13:24-30). untary action. Some of the former tion, keeping the government out of Welfare might turn to welfare as a last resort, but both, again, should oppose the sort child care, opposing welfare systems Libertarians oppose the govern­ that destroy families, and so on. And of expansive and disruptive system ment welfare system because it is little given both groups' need to find addi­ now in existence. more than legislative theft, the taking tional allies, it is increasingly important of property from one group to give to Hope that Christians and libertarians not another. They are also concerned The conservative Christian and li­ only talk with each other, but work about the pernicious consequences of bertarian worldviews are very differ- together. 0

Smith,'"Remembering Roy Childs," continued from page 28

explaining how Dracula was the ideal and faced with the need to earn a living, but he gave far more than he got. His Randian hero. (Dracula pursued his ra­ Roy was unable to muster the time and ideas and his vision, the fruit of many tional self-interest according to the stan­ resources to undertake major projects. years of intense intellectual labor, were dard of "vampire qua vampire"; he He often spoke of his desire to write a free for the asking. He sparked enthu­ despised mysticism as manifested in book on the history and ideas of the siasm in others when he felt none him­ holy water and the cross; most signifi­ modern movement. And he desperately self. He set up projects for others when cantly, it was he who penetrated and the wanted to have his own newsletter, so he had no hope of getting one himself. woman who was penetrated.) he could write the kind of incisive com­ He was a generous and kind man. Roy and I often reminisced about mentaries and articles he had become fa­ Some libertarians stuck by Roy to those halcyon days; we wondered what mous for as editor of Libertarian Review. the end. I wish to thank those people on had changed, and why. The libertarian Unfortunately, these dreams were Roy's behalf. He spoke of you often, and movement seemed to have lost much of never realized. Roy had been stigma­ with great affection. its vitality, and the viciousness of poli­ tized in some circles as "difficult," so he Barely a day has passed since Roy tics had turned many former friends found it nearly impossible to obtain ceased to exist, and I already feel pangs into bitter enemies. Or maybe it was just funding. Much of the movement he had of terror and dread. So much of what I us - older, wiser, and somewhat more helped create turned its back on him, am lowe to him. I would probably have cynical. and I shudder when I recall the pain this given up long ago, if not for his counsel Roy's later years were not easy for caused him. and encouragement. him. Plagued with physical problems, Yes, Roy could be difficult at times, Farewell, my fine friend! Farewell! 0 Liberty 37 Sounding_

The Myth of Metal Illness by Gracie and Zarkov

"I can foresee a music that is beyond good and evil." - Friedrich ~ Nietzsche

he moral insight of anarchy is moral universe where fun is assumed the realization that no one else "From Chuck Berry on, rock has provid- to be bad, "bad" easily becomes should be in charge of your head. The ed anthems to teenhood and teen equated with fun. The confused moral limits of anarchy are reached when no hoods." - Lester Bangs positions of conventional society on one is in charge of your head, includ­ sex, drugs, and violence are reflected ing you. "What gets to me is that I have read in the confused fixations that heavy Only a few rockers have yet given letters from fans ofMotley Crfie that metal performers and consumers play much thought to the problems of indi­ more or less say that they like the out in their lives, music, and videos. vidual freedom and responsibility. band because they can get away Further muddying the waters is the Without an understanding of the rela­ with anything...." use of familial violence to control chil­ tionship between responsibility and - Mike Monroe ofHanoi dren. Studies have shown that violent ad­ freedom, heavy metal promotes irrespon­ Rocks, which broke up when olescents and adults are produced by sible "anarchy." Megadeath's cover of the their drummer, Razzle, was violent parents. The number of heavy Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the UK" is a pas­ killed by Motley Crfie's metal performer interviews that contain sionate cry against the oppression of the Vince Neil in a drunk­ some version of "then I had a big fight with human spirit, but it provides no substitute driving accident my father and he threw me out of the other than mindless anger. The performers house" is too depressing to count. The re­ and consumers of heavy metal have ab­ "There's a fine line between sulting damaged personality is glamorized sorbed some of the ideas of the crime and pleasure." by Bad Boy rockers. Enlightenment, but selling the 18th century to - Izzy Stadlin of There are bands more aware of the down­ droolers in a time of moral confusion can lead Guns N' Roses side of the Bad Boy position: Skid Row's "18 to a one-sided understanding of freedom, clos- and Life" video tells the cautionary tale of an er to DonGiovanni than Tom Paine. angry young man whose lack of control causes The worst heavy metal bands pander to an audience him to kill his best friend. Testament's "Ballad" points out whose idea of success is to have someone to haul you home, that being a Bad Boy is just as limiting a social role as being pay your bail, clean up after you, and hire lawyers to pro­ "good," and is more likely to get you killed. Even Kiss has tect you from the consequences of your own stupidity. This a video fable against gang violence called "Hide Your amounts to a particularly pernicious version of the rebel Heart." archetype: the Bad Boy. The Bad Boy is the modern equiva­ Still, under present conditions, adolescent males seem lent of Don Giovanni, the rebellious aristocrat who can get innately more reckless and violence-prone than the rest of away with murder. humanity, and this is reflected in the music of male adoles­ In general, social conditioning permits adolescents two cents. This theme is amplified in Megadeath's "Wake Up opposed packages of behavior. One can be "good" - which Dead," where a young man admits that his actions might is to say, sober, responsible, and dull- or one can be "bad" get him killed but will pursue them anyway, and in - that is, intoxicated, irresponsible, and exciting. In a Motorhead's "Ace of Spades": "You win some, you lose 38 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

some, gambling is for fools/But that's the way I like it, etallica's brilliant seven-minute video, "One," uses foot­ baby, I don't want to live forever." M age from the 1970 film Johnny Got His Gun; like the But what actually distingUishes socially unacceptable movie, the song describes a war casualty who to the outside forms of recreational violence from acceptable ones, such world is a vegetable, but inside is alive, totally isolated in as football? Johnny B. Goode, the worst movie of 1988, is the hismind and continually wracked by pain. His only desire: story of a high school football star choosing between "Oh God, help me, I wish for death." General Sherman sports and rock 'n' roll. The movie's theme song is the fa­ would have approved. mous Chuck Berry Until the eight­ tune for which the film eenth century, contin­ was named, as cov­ uous war among ered by Judas Priest. nations was regarded The band's video as inevitable. The crosscuts film clips of same visionaries re­ bone-crunching tack­ sponsible for the ideas les, shady recruiting that spawned liberal agents, and high revolutions in North school jock mayhem America and Europe - that is, all the unfor­ were the first to pre­ tunately true cliches of dict an end to war. The high school football ­ secret is simple: na­ with the anarchic free­ tions do not go to war for-all violence of against each other stage-divers and slam­ when their citizens are dancers. The message well-off and their is clear: if violence is economies inter­ your idea of fun, why twined. The way to participate in regiment­ end war is to encour­ ed violence in the ser­ age freedom and eco­ vice of adult interests? nomic well-being for "Brainwashed wimps the entire human race. play football. Real men stage dive." Back in 1986, during the depths of the Cold War, the Given the statistics on injury and death in school sports, German band Shy sang, "Tear down the Wall ... Who why are they glorified as "wholesome" and "character­ needs fools deciding?" Their video showed the regimented building"? The usual justification for such regimented vio­ life of a clandestine rock fan in East Germany. She is caught lence comes down to preparation for war. The core heavy and imprisoned, but one of her cell walls collapses through metal audience - young males - is also the human crop the Berlin Wall and she falls into a heavy metal concert in that nations throughout history have harvested for cannon West Berlin. fodder. Viewed in this context, metal's obsession with war There was a graffito on the Wall that said, "This wall and violence becomes more intelligible. will fall. Ideas become reality." Who could have possibly imagined how quickly this would come true? I speak ofgreat heroic days, ofvictory and might 1hold a banner drenched in blood, 1 urge you to be brave "Why should freedom ofspeech and freedom of the press 1 lead you to your destiny, I lead you to your grave be allowed? Beliefs are much more fatal than guns." Your bones will build my palaces, your eyes will stud my -Lenin crown For 1 am Mars the god ofwar, and 1will cut you down. 1 twist the truth, 1 rule the world, my crown is called deceit, - Motorhead, "Orgasmatron" And still you play the sycophant and grovel at my feet And all my promises are lies, all my love is hate "I look upon war with horror. You can bear this I am the politician, and I decide your fate. warning voice to generations yet to come. War is - Motorhead, "Orgasmatron" cruelty and you cannot refine it. War is Hell." - General William T. Sherman "... suffer yourselves not to be wheedled out ofyour liberty [to publish] by any pretense ofpoliteness, delicacy or decen­ "Ask not what your country can do for you; cy. These as they are often used are but three different ask what you can do for your country." names for hypocrisy, chicanery and cowardice." - John F. Kennedy - John Adams "I died for my country, will you?" Freedom - it means nothing to me - Vietnam-era Poster with a photograph as long as there's a PMRC! ofa rotting World War I corpse - Megadeath, "Hook in Mouth" Liberty 39 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

L the summer of 1985, the Senate held a special set of a move that would seriously cripple its economic develop­ McCarthyistic hearings inspired by the Parents' Music ment. Nineteen eighty-four has been cancelled by the silicon Resource Center (PMRC), a group pushing for "warning la­ chip. bels" for record albums. Dee Snyder, metal group Twisted Sister's frontman, was called to testify. Nattily dressed in "America is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence blue jeans, mirrored sun glasses, and a black Twisted Sister T-shirt with his hair freshly permed, he proceeded to ex­ ofall." - John QuincyAdams plain to the senators that he was protected by the U. S. What do you mean I don't support the system? Constitution, and that if they were offended by his music, It's still 'We the People,' isn't it? that was too bad. Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take - Megadeath, "Peace Sells, But Who's Buying?"

~ Americans should be ashamed of our government. We have been the richest and freest nation in the world for The Bad Boy is the modern equivalent of Don so long that we have become smug. With the collapse of to­ talitarianism as a serious threat to our survival, we no long­ Giovanni, the rebellious aristocrat who can get er have any excuses for not living up to the patriotic ideals away with murder. of the Founding Fathers. We have a long way to go. The deficit cannot be cut be­ cause we all have a hand in the government porkbarrel. Congress has a reelection rate so high it would have been an It" video, based on an incident from Dee's adolescence, is a embarrasment to the Politboro; even The Wall Street Journal cartoonish, in-your-face attack on the kind of stupid, au­ calls it the U.S. House of Lords. Our popular culture pro­ thoritarian repression promoted by the PMRC. motes freedom while our government supports foreign dic­ Twisted Sister also pilloried the mindless regimentation tators. Our inner cities are being destroyed by drug profit of American high schools in their video, "I Wanna Rock," wars. The rate of incarceration in the U.S. is higher than and with good cause. As a committee of Fortune 500 busi­ ness leaders reported in The Wall Street Journal, schools opt for "control rather than education" and offer an environ­ ment that "more closely resembles a factory than a haven The number of heavy metal performer inter­ for learning" Therefore, it's not too surprising that rebellion and views that contain some version of"then I had a protest have become commercially viable products. A best­ big fight with my father and he threw me out of selling non-fiction hardback may sell less than 100,000 cop­ the house" is too depressing to count. ies; a heavy metal group wouldn't even be considered a cult band with such disappointing sales. And a record or video's reach is extended when it is played for multiple listeners. Last year Americans spent $25 billion on records, compact South Africa's and China's; over two thirds of the inmates discs, videos, and cable TV. Of that, teenagers alone spent are incarcerated for drugs. Pornography serves as another over $2 billion on records, tapes, and CDs. The numbers for excuse for censorship and sexual control. Laws are pro­ Western Europe and Japan are of similar magnitude. By posed against obscene lyrics, aimed at censoring rap and contrast, now-imprisoned televangelist Jim Bakker grossed metal but capable of banning almost every opera in the about $130 million in his best year. That is less than what standard repertoire. Repeatedly, in public opinion polls two platinum metal bands gross for records, concerts, and since WorId War II, the ideas contained in the Bill of Rights T-shirts in a good year. It is now possible for young fail to gain majority approval. unknowns to become rich selling a message of protest or re­ Having been "best" for so long, many Americans refuse bellion against government, church, parents, and social to believe they can be better. America is in danger of becom­ mores. ing a rigid, reactionary society. The heavy metal bands know All over the world, war is being waged against the forc­ this and the kids know this. Authoritarians of all stripes re­ es of oppression. But this war is not fought with guns, is not vile and fear the music because it shoves this message into centrally directed, and is not financed by massive taxes and their faces, and there's nothing they can do to stop it. sacrifice. It is being fought with electronic signals, by mil­ Our society gives much lip service to freedom and indi­ lions of independent individuals, some of whom - such as vidualism, but our schools teach, encourage, and often de­ these rock stars - are getting very rich. mand unthinking conformity to the usually rigid and We have entered the age of Electronic Cuerrilla Warfare. authoritarian "community standards" that thwart kids' abil­ Its weapons are telephones, faxes, modems, satellite TV, ity to be free, responsible, and happy. personal computers, Walkmen, and VCRs, the staples of The ultimate value of heavy metal lies in its dedication modern culture. The only way a developed society can de­ to the individual's efforts to create oneself in spite of social fend itself against these devices is to prohibit them entirely, continued on page 42 40 Liberty Commemoration

At Long Last, Death by David Horowitz

Sometimes you must balance one life against another. But when you do this, watch for the weighted fingers of those who, pretending to wear the mantle of Justice, favor the guilty over their victims.

Robert Alton Harris is finally dead. Every day of the last fourteen years of his life, since he murdered two teenagers in 1978, was an injustice. It was an injustice that for four­ teen years he was alive and his victims were not. It was an injustice that all America knew his name and his face and his troubled history, while almost no one would be able to name the two teenagers he murdered or describe a seventeen years since, I have often must it be like to be Betty's children, single aspect of their brief and inno­ found myself thinking about Betty and or the parents of the boys that Robert cent lives. It was an injustice that day her children and now grandchildren, Harris murdered despite their pleas after day, year in, year out, the media the suffering she endured and the for mercy? What must it have been outdid itself to find ways to make this awful vacancy in their lives. I will like to live with the knowledge that he monster sympathetic, by interviewing never be free from this memory or this was alive, just as two of Betty's killers his psychiatrists, by recounting the grief. are alive? That he has been the center I think, too, about Betty's murder­ sins of his parents, by exploring the of so much compassion and concern, ers. For seventeen years I have while their sons are all but forgotten? heart-rending effects of fetal alcohol watched them get on with their lives That, too, is an injustice. syndrome in society at large, by find­ - a privilege they denied to Betty her­ About ten years ago, as a reporter, ing other killers to care about, includ­ self. One of Betty's murderers is alive I visited the Nellis School for Boys in ing a lone woman on death row in and well and pursuing a career in Los Whittier, California. It consisted of a California and a condemned murderer Angeles. Another is in jail for a differ­ cluster of white cottages sprinkled like who found a pathetic female to fall in ent murder. The third was a famous islands on a rolling green expanse. love with him. sixties leader, Huey Newton, who There were 400 murderers housed in Seventeen years ago a friend of eventually met a sordid end as a jun­ these cottages when I visited Nellis, mine named Betty van Patter was kie, killed by a dealer on the street. which is a division of the California murdered by the Black Panther Party Huey and the first mentioned of these Youth Authority. Everyone of those in East Oakland. She was the mother murderers have been lionized over murderers would be released in an av­ of three children. No one was ever in­ these years in many books and by erage of three years. Back they would dicted for the crime. Her death was several documentaries on public tele­ go to the streets of South Central to re­ emotionally devastating for me, partly vision, including the award-winning sume their criminal lives. That didn't because I had got her the job that got Eyes on the Prize II. There are four just mean the certain deaths of other her killed: bookkeeper for a Panther Hollywood film projects currently in innocent victims of these killers. It also school in the East Oakland ghetto. It the works to celebrate them again. The sent a powerful message to the gener­ took many months for me not to wake rage I feel when such projects are an­ ation just entering the streets: We up with tears in my eyes and a lump nounced is not easy to describe. don't care. Not about the murdered. in my chest, grieving for Betty. For the And I am not family or kin. What Not about the dead. Liberty 41 Volume 5, Number 6 luI 1992

This minimal sentence for a human nearly fifteen years ago in California, a Thanks to the efforts of Bird and the death - which is nothing more than a month before Robert Alton Harris brightest lawyers of the ACLU, no lack of respect for human life - was snuffed out those two young lives. murderer has been executed in the fruit of compassionate liberalism, Another Jerry Brown appointment - California in all that time - until at that time embodied in the adminis­ Harris. Instead, tens of millions of dol­ tration of Jerry Brown. Brown had ap­ lars, reams of newsprint, and armies of pointed a woman named Pearl West to legal talent have been expended in the head the Youth Authority and thus Tens of millions of dollars, attempt to humanize the inhuman and have jurisdiction over violentcriminals reams ofnewsprint, and armies to rescue the guilty from the fate they under the age of 18. West·had no back­ of legal talent have been ex­ deserve. ground in criminal justice, but had con­ This has sent a message to the fami­ tributed money to Brown's political pended in the attempt to hu­ lies and friends of every victim of a campaign. I heard her speak once manize the inhuman and to capital crime: We don't care. A human about the injustice that "society" had rescue the guilty from the fate life is not that important. The same done to these young criminals. How they deserve. message that hasbeen sent to the crim­ her heart went out to them. How she inal on the street. tried to reduce the suffering and time For the parents of John Mayeski they had to spend as wards of the and Michael Baker, for the memory of state. As to the kids whose lives would Rose Bird - took it as her mission as the young boys themselves, for all the be menaced when these criminals were chief justice of the California Supreme kids in South Central who live in daily released to the street, she obviously Court to see that the wishes of the elec­ fear for their lives, and for Betty Van had not given a thought. torate would be disregarded and that Patter and her children -I am glad The death penalty was reinstated the law would remain a dead letter. that Robert Alton Harris is dead. 0

Gracie and Zarkov, "Heavy Metal and the Future of Freedom," continued from page 40

pressure to conform. The music's all-too-apparent negatives heavy metal would only be loud, boisterous party music. - glamorization of the Bad Boy image; nihilistic replication Intense experience --- including intense music, intense sex, of social violence, but now turned against society - come intense euphoria, and the pursuit of these experiences - is from the personal pain and repression of its individual art­ the positive aspect of heavy metal. Not all of us wish to mel­ ists. Metal would not be commercially successful, with its low out into a grey suburban couch potato or a politically dedicated and fanatical followers, if its message did not res­ correct Birkenstocked existence. If people are responsible onate in the souls of its audience. One sixty-five-year-old enough to pay for their own good times and not harm inno­ fan called heavy metal "the reaction of a free spirit to a dark cent third parties, no one has the right to restrain them. and cruel world." Until our society recognizes and practices Liberty is dangerous, as its opponents have pointed out a form of child-rearing that emphasizes freedom and indi­ since the Enlightenment. But 200+ years of action by the vidual responsibility over mindless conformity, the shadow Illuminati's freedom information virus has convinced most of repression will fuel what is offensive, frightening, twist­ of the world that freedom is essential. In free societies peo­ ed, and negative in heavy metal. ple are free to make mistakes. In 1992, we are more confi­ That negativity would probably disappear if "the pur­ dent than ever before that liberty will triumph. There is no suit of happiness" was seriously recognized as a right. For turning back. in the absence of the shadowy sources of its negative side, Mothers and fathers must assume the time, effort, and responsibility to ensure that their children have the freedom to pursue their own happiness and the responsibility to handle this freedom. Otherwise, when the Slayer poster goes up on the bedroom wall, parents have no one to blame but themselves. 0

"1 have sworn eternal enmity against any form of tyranny over the mind ofman." - Thomas Jefferson

In this world we're living in, we have our share of sorrow, The answer now is don't give in, aim for a new tomorrow. - Judas Priest, "You've Got "The prisons are terribly overcrowded, so step forward and I'll Another Thing Coming" just beat the daylights out of you with my gavel." 42 Liberty Investigation

Returning America's Roads and Bridges to the Market by Terree P. Wasley

Privatization of roads and bridges isn't just a good idea. It's happened be­ fore, and it's happening again, all around the world.

Trucker Wilbert Fuselier and 45,000 pounds of coffee were headed down Louisiana's Interstate 10 in 1989 when a shattering jolt threw him upward, slamming his head into the top of his cab. Five similar jolts hit his I8-wheel tractor trailer in quick succession as the driver bumped along. A veteran of 1-10, Fuselier was 1111 I 11111111111 prepared. On the ceiling of his cab he had installed an inch-thick strip of red ment became a major funder of road breakdown would threaten the na­ foam rubber padding. construction. tion's security and economy. Can the This painful scenario is reenacted European nations, during this same U.S. entrust this function to private countless times daily across America, time period, continued to permit pri­ firms, which may go out of business, where roads and bridges are deterio­ vate firms to build, own, and operate go bankrupt, or otherwise fail? rating faster than governments can af­ major highways. The tunnel under the Unlike government, of course, mar­ ford to repair or replace them. The English channel between Britain and ket firms must rely upon resources quality of the nation's infrastructure France is being financed and built en­ voluntarily supplied by customers and has increasingly become a matter of tirely by private firms. There are more investors. They cannot compel pay­ governmental and public concern. than 8,000 miles of private toll roads ment through taxation. But far from Cost estimates for repair and update of across Europe, compared with only a being a disadvantage, this encourages the nation's highways are as high as little over 4,000 in the United States. private firms to be more prudent in $655 billion, and the cost to rehabilitate managing resources, more responsive bridges could reach $50 billion. Myths About the Private to complaints, and more sensitive to With budget constraints at both Ownership of Roads market demand. Private firms have to federal and state levels, dollars for in­ The notion of private roads is not make good decisions to stay in busi­ frastructure repair are few and far be­ new, but is burdened with many ness. The purported benefits of the tween. But it hasn't always been this myths. Among them: "public market," however, insulate way, and frustrated government offi­ Myth #1: Only the government can oper­ government agencies from the necessi­ cials as well as frustrated motorists ate a road system that meets the needs of ty of making good decisions, as well as might learn a lesson from history. In citizens. The idea of private companies much of the information crucial to the early nineteenth century, most operating roads may seem strange to making good decisions. This lack of a roads in the United States were built, many Americans. Some experts be­ link between services rendered and owned, and operated by private com­ lieve there is a plausible basis for the payments allows public agencies to ig­ panies. It was only in the latter part of premise that government must own nore consumer wishes - as every mo­ that century that state governments and operate the roads. Besides the torist who has complained about a took over most road ownership and enormous resources available to gov­ pothole knows. operation. And it wasn't until after ernment to operate the system, trans­ At the same time, dependence on World War II that the federal govern- portation is so vital that any legislated sources of revenue makes Liberty 43 Volume 5, Number 6 luI 1992

public agencies very sensitive to politi­ oly. There are no significant economies find less congestion as a result of the cal pressures for special favors. Such of scale in road construction. In fact, addition of the private roads. political favors divert scarce resources the overlapping responsibilities of vari­ While some may object to a two-tier from more urgent needs. Other more ous agencies and levels of government, system for roads, this approach is al­ beneficial and more useful road repairs the dynamics of the political process, ready in effect in many other services. or construction will be delayed or the intermingling of jurisdictional au­ Take the post office, for example. One abandoned because of the political thority, and the inefficient nature of may choose to mail a letter or package manipulation of road finance. bureaucracy itself tend to raise admin­ through the U.S. Postal Service if one Myth #2: Roads are a "public good" and istrative costs per unit of road as sys­ isn't too particular about reliable, quick thus can only be supplied by government. tems are enlarged, leading to delivery. However, if a letter or pack­ It often is assumed that roads are what substantial diseconomies of scale. age needs to arrive quickly, one may economists call a "public good" - a Construction costs have gone up by choose an alternative delivery system good or service that of necessity must over 400% in the last 30 years, but ad­ such as Federal Express or United be made available to everyone. ministrative costs have risen by over Parcel Service. One method is less ex­ Common examples of public goods are 1,200% in the same period. Roads thus pensive but slower, the other, more defense and the criminal justice sys­ fail to exhibit the ever-increasing econ­ costly but faster. tem. Because it is not possible to ex­ omies of scale that are requisite of a Additionally, by providing the effi­ clude non-payers from receiving the natural monopoly. ciencies discussed in Myth #3, private­ service, an individual user can avoid The "natural monopoly" argument ly-owned roads, by competing with that has been made for roads and other private and publicly-ownoo bridges has not sufficed for other infra­ roads, will keep costs at a more reason­ structure that is privately owned, such able level, giving more people the op­ Prior to the 20th century, as electric utilities, wastewater treat­ portunity to use the private option ­ ment plants, telecommunications sys­ especially if less government financing construction of American tems, and water supply systems. These of roads translates into tax reductions. roads and bridges was usual­ systems demonstrate how private own­ If the user is faced with contributing ly a local and often a private ership of infrastructure is compatible what is deemed a reasonable amount with common interests. Private infra­ for using the .higher quality road, he matter. structure ventures "have consistently may choose that option over the gov­ shown. to have faster procurement ernment-owned road that typically re­ times, lower construction costs, lower ceives lower levels of maintenance. paying for the amount of service indi­ operating costs, and more innovative design and operating concepts than Private Roads in vidually consumed. The demand for American History such a public good or service always public sector projects. Prior to the 20th century, construc­ exceeds the amount that a private Myth #4: Highways cannot compete with tion of American roads and bridges owner can supply, given the private each other. Most roads, particularly in was usually a local and often a private owner's limited ability to raise revenue urban areas, compete with each other matter. Originally, local townships from users. This gap is generally taken to carry traffic and attract businesses or maintained their own roads. This was as an argument for the desirability of residences along their routes. fine so long as trips were short. But as government supplying the service and Convenient and well-maintainErl the typical road trip lengthened, a compelling payment through taxes. routes would entice motorists to spend growing number of travelers passed Yet roads are not necessarily public user fees on the facility, if they were al­ through several local jurisdictions, be­ goods. Those who do not pay tolls, ve­ lowed to do so. High-volume roads at­ coming what economists call "free rid­ hicle registrations, orother charges for tract businesses dependentupm ers." They paid nothing for benefitting roads are easily excluded from using visibility and access, while low..;volume from the roads that were built and them. roads. are more useful for residential maintained by local residents. Myth #3: Roads are a natural monopoly. areas. This suggests that use of roads As the residents began to balk at A natural monopoly is said to exist if has many market-like aspects, intimat­ prOViding roads for non-residents, the the cost of producing an extra unit of a ing the possibility of a competitive private market stepped in. Borrowing good consistently declines as the scale market, managed by private market from English practice, Americans built of production increases, since the most roadway operators. private turnpikes. The first notable pro­ efficient production then takes place Myth #5: Only the rich will be able to jectwas chartered in 1794 and connect­ when the producer is as large as possi­ travel, since low-income drivers would not ed Philadelphia and Lancaster, ble - that is, a monopoly. In such a sit­ be able to afford private roads. Privately­ Pennsylvania. A private corporation, fi­ uation, the presence of competing owned roads in congested areas will nanced by shares sold to the public, firms would raise the cost of supplying give travelers greater choice of routes. built the entire 61-mile project in two the service. Those who pay to drive on the private years. Users paid at tollgates along the A strong case can be made, howev­ road will find less congestion. Those route. By 1840, more than 10,000 miles er, that roads are not a natural monop- who remain on the public road too will of user-financed turnpikes laced the 44 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

young nation, most of the mileage pre­ Europe are toll roads constructed and in that country. It is a private joint ven­ dictably in the more populated New owned by private companies, and most ture of an Australian construction firm, England and Middle Atlantic states. of the major bridges and tunnels have a Japanese contractor, and The New During the same period, govern­ also been built with toll financing. South Wales Department of Main mental road construction was virtually The basic European model is for Roads. The tunnel, which is expected nonexistent. In New York between government to award a franchise or to be finished this year, will be operat­ 1790 and 1821, the state's expenditure concession to a commercial entity for a ed privately until 2022, when it will re­ of $622,000 on the construction of roads period of time long enough to amortize vert to the government at no charge. and bridges was dwarfed by private in- its investment, typically 25 to 35 years. The most dramatic of the new Then, the road is transferred to the gov­ Pacific rim projects is under construc­ ernment. This is known as the B-O-T tion today in China. Hong Kong entre­ method - for "build-operate-transfer." preneur Gordon Wu broke ground in Europe and the Pacific It has built some 5,300 miles of toll April 1987 for a $1 billion, ISS-mile pri­ Rim have never adandoned highways in France, Italy, and Spain, vate toll road linking Guang Zhou the concept of private road including 90 percent of Italy's motor­ (Canton) with Hong Kong and Macao. way system. France adopted the B-O-T Wu's franchise is for 30 years, after construction, and benefit approach in the late 1960s, and nine which ownership will revert to the from thousands of miles of semi-private and private firms have Chinese government. private toll roads. built and operate major motorways. The United States ­ French toll roads generate approxi­ Private Roads Again? mately $2 billion a year in toll Privately-built roads are coming revenues. back in vogue in the U.S., as money­ vestment of $11 million in turnpike In early 1988, the Costain Group, strapped states and territories look for companies and $8S0,ooo in bridge one of Britain's largest construction ways to finance new highways. The re­ companies. firms, announced plans for three B-O-T cently-passed transportation bill allows Meddling by government was the projects, totalling $12 billion. One is a roads to be privately built, owned, and primary cause of the decline in private 16-mile motorway beneath the Thames operated. Statistics compiled by the construction and ownership of roads. River, the second is an upper deck on a International Bridge, Tunnel and Although the roads were privately motorway that encircles London, and Turnpike Association show that sixteen owned, state governments maintained the third is a high-speed rail line from states are considering $8.S billion tight control through heavy regulation. London to the entrance of the Channel worth of proposals that would add 882 The imposition of caps on toll rates and Tunnel linking Britain and France. The restrictions on the placement of toll­ historic $14 billion Channel Tunnel, gates were introduced, sharply reduc­ popularly known as the "Chunnel," ing turnpike profits. As profits and goes one step beyond B-O-T since own­ dividends declined, support for private The chief causes of Amer­ ership will not revert to government. ica's highway and bridge dif­ roads waned, and state governments Though the project does have the au­ gradually garnered control over most thorization of the British and French ficulties are the problems in­ roads during the mid-19th century. governments, it employs neither gov­ herent in public ownership of Still, in the first part of the 20th centu­ ernment financing nor guarantees. It infrastructure. ry, some roads were being built by and has raised funds through international for private firms. banks and equity capital from public Private Roads In Europe offerings. and the Pacific Rim Over the past decade, the B-O-T miles in toll roads and bridges. Dallas, While America's dependence on model has been used in the Pacific Houston, Orlando, Miami, Chicago, private roads decreased in the twenti­ Rim. Indonesia is linking its islands of Denver, Virginia, and Orange County, eth century, toll roads became far more Bali, Java, and Sumatra with a network California are among the jurisdictions common in Europe and Asia. The con­ of toll roads and bridges. South Korea planning road projects. cept of paying to use a road, bridge, or has developed a toll road network to California - In June 1989 the other structure has been accepted in bring farm products to the cities. Hong California legislature, as part of a $18.5 Europe since 1281, when tolls were col­ Kong has built its famed private har­ billion transportation bill, authorized lected on London Bridge. A 1977 study bor tunnels using this model. And private companies to build four dem­ by the International Bridge, Tunnel Malaysia is using B-O-T to build the onstration tollways in the state. All and Turnpike Association found that final 310-mile link in a 560-mile motor­ four projects will involve the develop­ Belgium, Britain, France, Italy, and way from Singapore to the Thai ment of transportation facilities by the Spain had 8,868 miles of toll roads, border. private market. compared with 4,416 miles in the The Sydney Harbour Tunnel, under The projects are to be privately United States. Most of the national net­ construction in Australia, is the largest planned, funded, financed, built, and work of major roads in Western privately-funded public works project operated, although the state will own Liberty 45 Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

the completed facilities and lease them ers are distinct from those of state and earlier than the state could do the job, back to the private developer. The pro­ local governments with the exception and without dipping into the $20 mil­ jects will, therefore, follow the "build­ that the counties along the route must lion surplus generated by the present transfer-operate" (B-T-0) model for approve the toll rates. toll road. Plus, it will leave untouched public-private partnership. "California The Front Range Toll Road millions of dollars in Department of is the tort capital of the U.S.," says Company of Denver has proposed a Transportation funds that can be ap­ Robert W. Poole, Jr., president of the $1.3 billion, 210-mile route from Pueblo plied to other road projects. Los Angeles-based Reason Foundation to Fort Collins, running parallel to con­ Meanwhile, according to Ralph and a member of CalTran's privatiza­ gested 1-25 which passes through Stanley, founder and president of the tion advisory board. "Because of that Denver. The project is envisioned as a Toll Road Corporation, America's they did not go with the B-O-T model. "purely private" multipurpose utility crumbling bridges and highways offer They went with B-T-O, so the state will corridor that would include pipelines, profitable opportunities for the private own these roads from the day they electric lines, and communications market. Stanley already has suggested open. That supposedly will reduce the lines. As of August 1991, developers that the Toll Road Corporation repair liability exposure of the private are in negotiation with several u.S. and rehabilitate bridges, acting as a market." companies on financial support for the general contractor, financing agent, Plans are for tolls and developer' project, which will take three years to and construction supervisor. Upon a fees to fund the projects. In addition to construct. project's completion, the Toll Road tolls, other revenue available to the pri­ Puerto Rico - The San Jose Lagoon Corporation would collect tolls for a vate builders could include rents from Bridge is a B-O-T toll bridge to be built set number of years to payoff the pro­ private development of air rights; pri­ near San Juan's airport. The bridge has ject debt and make a profit. vate real estate development at inter­ been a top priority of Governor Rafael changes or station stops; transmission Technology Smooths Hernandes Colon since it was an­ the Way for Private Roads of data, water, and electricity; exclusive nounced as a privatization project in The biggest complaint against pri­ truck lanes; and anything else legal and 1989. It will be built under an $83 vate roads is the stop-and-go process profitable. million fixed-price contract. Environ­ at toll booths. The new technology of The cost of the three projects in mental and land use permits have al­ electronic pricing, however, can make Southern California is estimated at $2.1 ready been obtained, and construction toll booths obsolete and allow non­ billion. An environmental review was is set to start as soon as the financing is stop travel. This technology is called completed on the freeway project in completed. The private project is strict­ the automatic vehicle identification de­ Orange County and planners hope to ly designed and defined to avoid any vice, or AVI. An identification card the break ground soon. The other three co-mingling of public and private capi­ size of a credit card is attached to the projects, including the one in Northern tal. No public funds will be involved in inside of the vehicle's windshield. As it California, are still awaiting environ­ the construction of the bridge. mental review. passes the tollbooth or sails up the on­ Virginia - The 1988 Virginia High­ ramp the card signals to radio trans­ Colorado - A 1983 Colorado law way Corporation Act opened the way mitter/ receivers or underground elec­ gives private road companies the right for private companies to seek authority tronic cables that the driver has and ability to build new roads. Road to construct and operate roads in that already paid a month's worth of tolls developers can file a claim on a trans­ state. Soon after the law was enacted, and doesn't have to stop. Users receive portation corridor, acquire the right of the newly created private Toll Road a monthly toll bill similar to a utility way by purchase, dedication, or con­ Corporation of Yirginia (TRCY) sub­ bill or have the fees charged to their demnation, and finance, build, operate, mitted a proposal to the Virginia credit cards. This system is already in and own a toll road. All of these pow- Commonwealth Trans-portation Board use on roads in Delaware, Texas, and to build and maintain an New Orleans, and on the Coronado US P05T OI=F/CE extension of the publicly­ Bridge between San Diego am run Dulles Toll Road. The Coronado, California. 14-mile extension from Automatic vehicle identification the Dulles International technology allows higher tolls to be Airport to the town of charged during rush hours to divert Leesburg will be non-essential traffic to cheaper off-peak America's longest private hours. Other businesses already use toll road and is the first differential pricing to rechannel de­ authorized in Virginia mand to off-peak periods. Movie thea­ since 1816. ters feature mid-day reduced prices to The road is being built fill otherwise empty seats. Many res­ at no expense to taxpay­ taurants offer "early-bird" dinner spe­ ers. Completion of the cials to encourage people to dine at project is expected by what would otherwise be less busy "I still say we should close up for lunch - we'd avoid a times. Electric utilities and phone com- lot of customers that way." 1993 - at least 18 months 46 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

panies offer time-of-day rate schedules instead of noting the exact travel pat­ Highway Fund. in order to entice consumers to shift tern, monitoring devices could be set Unfortunately, public ownership of some of their demand to off-peak so as to record the number of times a roadways creates a strong bias against hours. client passed a limited number of market pricing for road use. Free access Charging drivers a price that re­ points on the map, and highway own­ inevitably leads to over-use, which flects the replacement cost of the road ers could always provide toll booths on then leads to demands for additional plus the time cost of delays· to other one lane, allOWing the others to be capacity. This costly new capacity users caused by congestion has an im­ monitored electronically. would not have to be constructed were portant advantage over current prac­ market-pricing used on existing struc­ tice: it would quickly regulate traffic to Public Ownership: tures. The current practice of below­ its optimal flow. According to econo­ The Inherent Problems cost pricing encourages users to re­ mist Randall J. Pozdena, optimal road­ The chief causes of America's high­ quest more services than they are will- pricing in California would require way and bridge difficulties are the peak-period fees of about 65 cents per problems inherent in public ownership mile in urban areas, 21 cents on subur­ of infrastructure. The incentives operat­ ban roads, and 17 cents on fringe sub­ ing in the public market often lead to The purported benefits ofthe urban roads. Off-peak fees would be 3 misdirected spending, the inefficient to 5 cents per vehicle mile across the use of existing infrastructure, and a upublic market" insulate gov­ board. failure to maintain the infrastructure ernment agencies from the The market pricing of roads has a properly. Mismanagement and poor necessity of making good deci­ future: both the need to rebuild our workmanship dog many federal high­ transportation infrastructure and the way projects. sions, as well as much of the increasing cost of congestion require it. Politics plays a crucial role in the al­ information crucial to making "I'm sure that in 10 or 20 years, it will location of. infrastructure projects. good decisions. be a common feature of everyone's life Because each member of Congress in­ around the world," says Carl Williams, sists that his or her state or district re­ Assistant Director of the California ceive a pro-rata share of federal highway funds, numerous projects of Department of Transportation. ing to pay for, while giving planners an Williams estimates that peak-period relatively low priority are funded, leav­ exaggerated perception of investment ing fewer dollars for more appropriate pricing of new private toll roads needs from misleading signals about projects. In addition, members of high demand. Congress spend much time fighting over"demonstration projects," usually Private Goods, Public ownership of road­ new roads or access ramps, often paid Public Hope ways creates a strong bias for out of the Highway Trust Fund. Private roads have a long and suc­ against market pricing for road Congress managed to slip 157 of these cessful track record in the United projects into the last highway authori­ States; it is only in the recent past that use. Free access inevitably zation bill in 1987, costing the taxpayer government has taken over road­ leads to over-use, which then $1.4 billion. The 1991 highway bill in­ building. Europe and the Pacific Rim leads to demands for additional cludes 529 demonstration projects at a have never adandoned the concept of cost of over $5 billion for five years private road construction, and benefit capacity. (and as much as $40 billion to totally from thousands of miles of private toll complete all the projects). roads. Several countries and a few Another obstacle to infrastructure states within the U.S. recently have un­ and bridges has wide appeal. "The en­ improvement is the creative accounting dertaken private ventures in road and vironmentalists should like it. The op­ used by the Aministration and bridge construction. Government, com­ erators should love it. Business should Congress to make the federal budget merce, and the traveling public can all support it, and the drivers should deficit appear smaller. Receipts from benefit from new roads and bridges like it because they are going to get to gasoline taxes and other user fees are and the rehabilitation of existing ones. use that facility at its highest and most earmarked to the Highway Trust Fund, Government and taxpayers should find efficient use level." which is currently valued at $14.5 bil­ private market involvement a welcome Other options to alleviate traffic lion. In fact, there are no funds held in relief from additional financial bur­ congestion are also available to private an actual account. The money goes into dens, and commerce will hail new busi­ market road management. Motorists the general revenue pot and the ness opportunities. Certainly the could purchase a travel permit that Highway Fund is "owed': its amount. American public will welcome addi­ would allow unlimited street usage for While the public believes ~hat its gaso­ tional routes to satisfy their transporta­ a given period of time. Like a "season's line taxes are going for road improve­ tion needs, reducing congestion, pass," such an arrangement would alle­ ments, Congress refuses to spend commuting time, and frustration. It is viate the need for metering travel pat­ much of this money because it would time to return America's roads and terns. For those with privacy concerns, have to replace the money owed to the bridges to the market. 0 Liberty 47 Proposal

The "Lock" on the Electoral College by David Brin

Everybody talks about the Electoral College, but nobody ever does anything about it. But something can be done.

It is as inevitable as mudslinging and inflated promises. Every four years we get re-acquainted with that peculiar American institution, the Electoral College, and each time we scratch our heads, wondering aloud why nobody has yet done anything about the old beast. What's it for? Why is it there? Why should we care? Well, for one thing, without a clear understanding of the Electoral College, 1892, Benjamin Harrison in 1888, receiving a clear majority in a tight any independent or third-party effort Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and 1916, election. The French, among others, in America is doomed to marginality John F. Kennedy in 1960, and Richard solve this dilemma by holding a run­ at best. The Libertarian Party, and Nixon in 1968. The worst example of off election. Other, even less satisfying even H. Ross Perot with all his mil­ the electoral college defying popular solutions include having Congress de­ lions, can accomplish nothing without will occurred in 1876. In the tally of cide between the top two candidates convincing citizens that votes outside ballots cast by citizens, Rutherford B. and letting someone acquire the awe­ the mainstream aren't wasted. Hayes was beaten soundly by his op­ some power of the Presidency with a mere plurality. (In a three-way race, Officially, voters cast their ballots, ponent, Samuel J. Tilden, and yet Hayes took office because of a back­ "plurality" could mean just 34% of the not for a presidential candidate, but room deal struck over disputed electo­ vote, with two-thirds of the country for electors from their state who are ral votes. hating the actual winner.) The prob­ committed to that candidate. States get As November 1992 approaches, lems with selection by popular vote to cast a number of electoral votes to­ these historical anecdotes will be re­ make one understand why the talling the sum of their congressional hashed. "What-if" scenarios will be Framers of the Constitution turned representatives. Traditionally, each al­ spun, describing obscure procedures their thoughts toward an intermediate locates its electors on a "winner-takes­ for settling a tie in the U.S. House of stage, the Electoral College. all" basis, to whomever garners the Representatives. As predictable as Eliminating the Electoral College re­ most popular votes inside the state. dirty tricks in October, there will be a quires a constitutional amendment. The Throughout the '92 campaign, flood of proposals to do away with the amending process is glacially slow ­ newspapers will tout which "swing" Electoral College altogether. as well it should be - and this daunts states matter most, and which candi­ It certainly sounds Simple enough; reformers. There is understandable re­ date has the best· chance of reaching why not just decide the presidency by luctance to meddle with the the magic number - 270 electors. We strict popular vote? Unfortunately, it's Constitution without clear and sub­ will be reminded that it's possible for not that easy. stantial cause. But, as we shall see, an a nominee to win the election despite What if nobody wins a popular majori­ amendment isn't necessary to solve gathering only a minority of the popu­ ty? Even a modestly successful bid by the problem. lar vote, as did Abraham Lincoln in a third party (or a campaign for "none Vested interests prefer the present sys­ 1860, Grover Cleveland in 1884 and of the above") could prevent anyone tem. Until recently, both major parties 48 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

profited from the present Electoral each state's electors that makes it possi­ negotiations with one of the major College system. Just as gerrymandered ble for the popular vote winner to lose candidates. This possibility doubt­ congressional districts give most repre­ the election. It is what allows one party less frightens both Republican and sentatives safe districts, the "winner­ to take huge swathes of the nation for Democratic leaders, but should it? I takes-all" method of parcelling each granted. It is the feature that disenfran­ state's electors rewarded both major chises large minorities, everywhere in parties with solid home territories the Union. Winner-takes-all guarantees w here power and patronage were that candidates lavish attention mostly A "Republican landslide" in secure. on big states, where a little extra effort l<£lnsas or Utah seldom means This has changed over the past might win a jackpot of electoral votes. half-century. The Democrats' tradition­ Finally, winner-takes-all is what al­ the G.O.P. received more than al "home block" - the "Solid South" most guarantees that the party which 60% or 65% of the popular has dissolved, while the represents more Americans than any vote. What about the 40% or so Republicans have gained a solid grip other will not win the presidency for who vote Democratic? For on the West. An end to the traditional the foreseeable future. balance proved disastrous for the Now here is the irony. those people, living in a west­ Democratic Party's presidential pros­ There is no provision for winner-takes­ ern state simply means that pects, in spite of their continued pre­ all anywhere in the Constitution. they are completely disenfran­ dominance in Congress and at the state For decades, both major parties used this allocation method to choose chised in Presidential elections. delegates to their national conventions. Just as gerrymandered con­ The Democrats eliminated it first, mak- ing rules to apportion convention votes find it hard to see how opening the gressional districts give most according to the percentage won by system a bit would hurt democracy. It representatives safe districts, each candidate in the primaries. would be a very mild version of coali­ the "winner-takes-all" method Republicans followed suit within a tion polities compared with what of parcelling each state's elec­ decade. Both acted partly because of other democracies successfully man­ changes in Americans' sense of fair age. America is an anomaly for allow­ tors rewarded both major par­ play. Yet most people still assume the ing no provision for power-sharing, ties with solid home territories unfair practice of all-or-nothing is con­ even when election results clearly call where power and patronage stitutionally mandated for choosing for it. electors. In fact, the situation is neither hope­ were secure. Actually, in nearly every state, elec­ less nor monolithic. In 1972, for exam­ tors are awarded all-or-nothing for ple, the state of Maine broke with only one reason: state laws so mandate. winner-takes-all by enacting legislation level. From 1952 to 1988, 21 states have Consider Utah, with a Republican­ that instead divided its electors among gone reliably Republican in presiden­ dominated legislature and voters who congressional districts. And in April of tial elections. Only six states and the can be relied on to regularly give the 1991, Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson District of Columbia have gone regu­ G.O.P. handsome majorities. Naturally, signed a law providing for three of that larly to the Democrats. the dominant group in the assembly state's five electors to be decided in But does this "reliability" mean that instituted winner-takes-all, to guaran­ congressional districts and two to be every voter in, say, Kansas or Utah tee their own party all of Utah's elec­ chosen at-large. If all states did this, casts for the Republican, every elec­ tors for president. The same logic the chance of mis-match between the tion? Of course not. A so-called holds in states with Democratic- electoral and popular vote majorities "Republican landslide" in each of dominated legisla­ those states seldom means the G.O.P. tures, such ~ received more than 600/0 or 65% of the Hawaii. popular vote. What about the 40% or In addition, win­ so who vote Democratic? For those ner-takes-all closes people, living in a western state means, the door on third quite simply, that they are completely parties. Take the disenfranchised in Presidential elec­ George Wallace cam­ tions. The same can be said of paign of 1968. Republican officials or lawyers in Under proportional Washington, should they foolishly live distribution, Wal­ and register in D.C. itself. lace's popular votes But it is not the electoral college per would have won se that distorts the system. It is the him enough electors ''The peasants are 99.8 percent of the population - you can hard- winner-takes-all method of allocating to enter coalition ly call them a 'special interest group.'" Liberty 49 Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992

would become negligible. Large minor­ Democrats prefer a system in which public. One thing is certain: the ities would no longer be disenfran­ they might have to make deals with Democrats can live with a Libertarian chised. Confidence in our system the Libertarians, and sometimes give Party that thrives, even opposing would improve. Maine and Nebraska Libs power on a few issues, to never them, but the Republican Party could show how simple it would be to fix again have a chance at the White not abide such a development. Such an one of the major constraints artificially House? event might spell death for the G.O.P.) distorting our electoral system. It is well past time to reform the Perhaps "trades" might be ar­ flaw in our presidential election sys­ ranged - Utah for Hawaii, etc. - so tem. In this era of growing democracy that neither party feels disadvantaged I find it hard to see how overseas, shouldn't we eliminate in­ by acting first. Or state legislatures opening the system a bit would equities in the system that is supposed might be pressed to change as a simple hurt democracy. America is an to be a shining example to the world? matter of fairness. The enemy in this case is not the Even more likely, some third party anomaly for allowing no provi­ Electoral College, a quaint institution - such as the Libertarians - might sion for power-sharing, even which some scholars think may ­ file before the Supreme Court under when election results clearly under hypothetical circumstances ­ the doctrine of "one person, one vote," call for it. provide a unique, last-ditch safeguard since the present system arguably vio­ to the Union. It isn't necessary to go lates the voting rights. of millions. through the trauma and risk involved There is even reason to believe that a in tinkering with the Constitution. temporary alliance with the Democrats (From the Libertarians' point of All we have to do is to make the could be struck, since the current ar­ view, coalition politics isn't shameful; process of selecting electors fair. In this rangement gives the Republicans a it's how a fringe party gains experience nation, in this era, that should not be lock on the presidency. Wouldn't and legitimacy in the eyes of a mass too much to ask. 0

WHY SHOULDYOU BEREADINGFREEDOMDAILY?* •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• "What will it take to abandon the road to serfdom which Americans have trav­ eled?" - Jacob G. Hornberger, founder and president, The Future of Freedom Foundation: August 1992 Freedom Daily. "The world. with the help of Hayek's ideas. may finally complete the task of ris­ ing up from serfdom."- Richard M. Ebeling, Ludwig von Mises Professor of Economics, Hillsdale College, Michigan, and academic vice president, The Future of Freedom Foundation: August 1992 Freedom Daily. "Classical liberalism is the signature political philosophy ofWestern civiliza­ tion." - Ralph Raico, professor of history, State University College of New York at Buffalo: August 1992 Freedom Daily. *WE DON'T COMPROMISE. For a one-year (12 issues) subscription to our 48-page publication, Freedom Daily, send $15 (cash, check, visa, or mastercard) to FFF, P.O. Box 9752, Dept. M, Denver, CO 80209. (303-777-3588). Forbidden Grounds: The Case Against En'lployment Discrimination Laws, plicit discrimination in the South and by Richard A. Epstein. Harvard University Press, 1992, 502 pp., $39.95. elsewhere was preserved by the use of coercion, both by state law and by private individuals (such as the Ku Klux Klan) whose activities were left unchecked by state agents. (93) This system "choke[d] off the im­ provements that blacks and others Just Discrimination could have achieved among them­ selves, or by doing business with whites who were sympathetic to them and supportive of their aspirations." Jim Crow was a textbook example of that as long as the tort law (with its what happens when the principles of James Taggart prohibitions against the forceful in­ limited government are ignored, allow­ terference with contract or prospec­ ing the power of the state to be en­ tive trading advantage) is in place, In Forbidden Grounds, Richard Ep­ larged and seized by a hostile majority. my enemies are powerless to block stein takes on one of the most sacred of Had state power been kept in our mutually beneficial trans­ check, private discrimi- America's sacred cows. 1/A broad anti­ actions by their use of nation would have discrimination principle," he observes, force. The universe of produced few "lies at the core of American political potential trading part­ harmful conse­ and intellectual understandings of a ners is surely smaller just and proper society, not only in em­ because some people quences. ployment but also in housing and pub­ bear me personal ani­ The second lic accommodations, medical care, mus and hostility. But step in Ep­ stein's argu­ education, indeed in all areas of public the critical question ment expands and private life" (p. 1). This principle, for my weUare is not which opportunities are the "traditional" Epstein argues, has been carried too far. lost but which are conclusion that a Laws prohibiting private discrimina­ retained. (30) free market would tion on the basis of race, sex, age, or drive out invidi­ handicap should be repealed. Historically, of course, ous forms of dis­ At the broadest level, Epstein's ar­ blacks never received anything close to the equal protection of the crimination. Those gument for freedom of contract - a law. Recognizing this, Epstein who re­ system that would allow hiring and fir­ provides a historical analy­ fuse to ing for good reason, bad reason, or no sis coherent with his do reason at all - proceeds in three steps. economic case: business First Epstein maintains that, assuming with any partic- that private property rights are fully [T]he re- ceived wisdom, V ular person or protected, the individual who is dis­ both in 1964 and to­ fJ\'A.. group of persons criminated against would suffer only day, does not grasp what must bear the cost negligible economic harm even if a was wrong with Jim Crow .0" of their decision large segment of the population re­ and segregation. The dominant themselves in the form fused to do business with him. evil in the pre-1964 period was not of lost profits and other [T]he counterstrategies for the victim self-interest or markets, inflexible hu­ foregone opportunities. As Epstein of discrimination are clear.... [I]n a man nature, or even bigotry. It was observes: world in which 90 percent of the peo­ excessive state power and the pattern The greater the class of persons who ple are opposed to doing business of private violence, intimidation, and are regarded as off-limits, and the with me, I shall concentrate my atten­ lynching, of which there is painful more irrational the preferences, the tion on doing business with the other record but against which there was more the decision [not to deal] will 10 percent, secure in the knowledge no effective federal remedy. The ex- hurt the people who make it, and the Liberty 51 illustrationby Shay Marlowe Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

open to rival traders. (94) The problem here is the classic one of for discrimination is just another pref­ This "natural curb" on discrimina­ the unanticipated consequences of erence." Discrimination is neither mo­ tion becomes even more pronounced purposive action The chief effect of rally right nor morally wrong. over time because, given free entry Title VII is to make highly skilled Invidious or benign: it makes no black labor more desirable relative to into the market, the mix of firms will difference. low-skilled black labor. As with the change. On the margin, those employ­ Expecting Epstein to make a moral minimum wage, Title VII works a re­ distinction between invidious and be­ ers who retain costly, discriminatory distribution from worse-off to better­ nign discrimination in Forbidden practices will go out of business, while off blacks, which is surely far from Grounds may be to expect too much, new or existing firms will adopt more what its principled supporters in­ but his rejection of the entire field of efficient, nondiscriminatory policies in tended. (501) order to survive. moral discourse on the subject of dis­ In subsequent examples, Epstein Given that potential victims of pri­ crimination places him further outside demonstrates how employment dis­ vate discrimination have little to fear the mainstream than is necessary to de­ crimination legislation combines with in competitive labor markets where fend his position. One can recognize other labor laws to limit severely the prohibitions against the use of force the morality of a broad antidiscrimina­ opportunities of many blacks, especial­ are strictly enforced, employment dis­ tion principle and still argue consistent­ ly the low-skilled. The bottom line is crimination laws involve costly, intru- ly and powerfully for repeal of the clear: these laws hurt their supposed employment discrimination laws. Mo­ beneficiaries far more than they help ral and consequentialist analyses are them. not incompatible. The gaps in Epstein's analysis only Epstein's failure to recognize the Epstein demonstrates that appear when he challenges the tradi­ compatibility of moral and consequen­ laws prohibiting discrimina­ tional view that competitive markets tialist discourse leads to the book's tion in employment hurt their drive out all forms of discrimination. thorniest problem. With economic effi­ He is undoubtedly correct that some ciency as his only guide, he must justi­ supposed beneficiaries far more forms of discrimination may be "ra­ fy the distinction between force and than they help them. tional" or "efficient." On the one hand, discrimination and explain why the use there are gains from homogeneity and of force should be strictly prohibited voluntary sorting that advantage the predominantly black, Jewish, Asian, or sive burdens that stifle economic inno­ WASP firm that recruits among its vation and competitiveness with busi­ "own kind." Employees from the same Those who refuse to do busi­ nesses not so stifled - i.e., those in racial or ethnic background may have other countries. Revealing this dark similar preferences about a whole ness with any particular per­ side to employment discrimination range of workplace issues resulting in son or group of persons must laws forms the third and final prong of fewer conflicts over decision-making bear the cost of their decision Epstein's case for their repeal. Echoing - and, hence, be more productive. Hayek and others, Epstein observes They also may allow the employer to themselves in the form of lost that: depend less upon formal, legal sanc­ prOfits and other foregone op­ Progress in business often comes tions to ensure employee performance, portunities. from the cumulation of small edges relying more on informal community and incremental advantages brought sanctions that often produce better re­ about by persons with extensive lo­ sults. On the other hand, Epstein ac­ cal knowledge. Imperfect informa­ knowledges that many firms - those tion - hunch, intuition, experience but discrimination allowed. But eco­ - is often all that we have, and it is doing business across cultures, for ex­ nomic analysis by itself cannot make a surely better than no information at ample - may consider employee di­ principled distinction between force all. But it is the kind of information versity an asset rather than a liability. and discrimination. Such a distinction that is greeted with scorn and hostili­ However, once Epstein admits that would require that some preferences be ty in the enforcement of a civil rights some discrimination may be efficient, characterized as illegitimate in certain law that demands the highest level a serious line-draWing problem emerg­ contexts, but in the world of econom­ of proof to justify existing business es. Is it possible to distinguish between ics, a preference is a preference is a practices that have survived in the invidious and benign forms of discrim­ preference. A preference for or against market. ... (42) ination? Granted, attempting to make the use of force gets factored into the The spectre of liability under the such a distinction can certainly pose same utilitarian calculus as one for or employment discrimination laws not great difficulties, but Epstein does not against discrimination. Whether any le­ only discourages or prohibits innova­ even try. Given his economic metho­ gal prohibition is justified depends on tive business practices but also hurts dology, he cannot. Economists take the the outcome of the same utilitarian cal­ many of the intended beneficiaries of subjective preferences of individuals culus. How the law should treat coer­ these laws. as given. As Epstein puts it, "The taste cion as opposed to discrimination 52 Liberty. Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

cannot be determined by economic or political theory to provide a starting vation, that what epochs consider their analysis alone. point. By itself, economic analysis can greatest virtue is most often really their Furthermore, it is far from clear only produce ambiguous results. greatest temptation, vice or danger. We which way people's preferences tip "Each age always conspires to make have to learn to put the scalpel to our the scales. Despite Epstein's brilliant its own way of thinking appear to be virtues" (260-61). explication of the costs imposed by the only possible way or just way," With the publication of Forbidden Epstein observes. "Yet we ought to rec­ Grounds, Richard Epstein has proven ognize, on the basis of historical obser- himself a surgeon extraordinaire. 0 Discrimination deeply of- fends the vast majority of r------, Americans, who would likely prefer that it remain illegal. Early Liberty Economics cannot declare these Indulge your mind with the pleasure and stimulation ofearly Liberty. Or complete your collection of the most exciting libertarian magazine. The first is­ preferences illegitimate; that sue is a reprint; all others are original printings. Enjoy! task, if it is possible, belongs in the realm of moral or political August 1987, 48pp., $4.00 Rothbard ·"Free Speech and the Future theory. • "The Films ofAyn Rand,» by Stephen ofMedicine," by Sandy Shaw & Durk Pear­ Cox • "Life or Death in Seattle,» by Mur­ son • "The Majority vs the Majoritarian: ray N. Rothbard • "The Mystery Man of Robert Bork on Trial," by Sheldon Rich­ the Libertarian Movement," by Ben man • Plus reviews and articles by R.W. Bradford, William Cate, Stephen Cox and employment discrimination laws, these Best • Plus reviews and articles by Ross others. laws may nevertheless be justified on Overbeek, Butler Shaffer, Ida Walters and economic grounds because of the nega­ others. May 1988, 64pp., $4.00 tive externalities caused by discrimina­ October 1987, 48pp., $6.00 • "Ayn Rand: Still Controversial After All tion. As Epstein concedes, discri­ • "The Sociology of Libertarians,» by J. c. These Years," by David Ramsay Steele & mination deeply offends the vast major­ Green & J. L. Guth • "The Apostasy of David Brown • "The ACLU: Suspicious ity of Americans, who would likely Robert Nozick," by Ethan o. Waters • Principles, Salutary Effects," by William P. prefer that it remain illegal. Economics "The Rise ofthe State,» by Murray N. Moulton • "The Two Libertarianisms," by cannot declare these preferences illegit­ Rothbard • Plus reviews and articles by Ethan o. Waters • Plus reviews and arti­ imate; that task, if it is possible, belongs Stephen Cox, William P. Moulton, Mike cles by Gary Alexander, Nathaniel Branden, in the realm of moral or political theo­ Holmes, Jonathan Saville and others. Erika and Henry Mark Holzer, Jeffrey Rog­ ers Hummel, Sheldon Richman, Franklin ry. For its part, economics must include 56pp., $3.00 these preferences in the equation. And, December 1987, Sanders and others. • "Libertarians in a State-Run World," by once these intense and broadly felt July 1988, BOpp., $4.00 Murray N. Rothbard • "The Most Unfor­ preferences are included in the analysis, • "Confessions ofan Intractable Individual­ gettable Libertarian I Ever Knew," by Karl anti-discrimination laws may be ist," by Jerome Tuccille • An interview with Hess • "Easy Living in the Bahamas," by "worth" having on the books. L. Neil Smith· David Ramsay Steele on Mark Skousen • Plus writing by Walter Forbidden Grounds is a major Robert Anton Wilson's critique ofNatural Block, Erika Holzer, Stephen Cox and Rights ·"Rand-Bashing: Enough is achievement, and an extremely impor­ others. tant book. Nevertheless, it seems plain Enough," by Ross Overbeek • Plus reviews that Epstein's single-minded focus on March 1988, 64pp., $4.00 and articles by Stephen Cox, Tibor Machan, economic analysis prevents him from • "Libertarians & Conservatives: Allies or Bill Kelsey and others. making an even stronger case against Enemies?" by John Dentinger & Murray See back coverfOr additional back issues. employment discrimination laws. Cer­ tainly he could recognize the moral as Circle each issue you want, and add $1.00 shipping & handling per order (foreign orders add 50~ per issue). Fill in the appropriate information below. opposed to the legal case against bigot­ ry; his claim that "the condemnation of o My check is enclosed racial and sexual stereotypes ... ha[s] Charge my: no libertarian underpinnings" seems o VISA 0 Mastercard Name dubious at best. Most importantly, eco­ nomics cannot produce the firm conclu­ Address sions that Epstein seems to prefer; Signature City indeed, without any theoretical under­ ACCOWlt# pinnings, such analysis may actually State ______Zip _ cut against Epstein's position. Forbidden Expiration Phone # Grounds requires an injection of moral L Send to: Liberty, PO Box 1167, Port Townsend, WA 98368 ~ Volume 5/ Number 6 July 1992

Liberty and Nature: An Aristotelian Defense ofLiberal Order, scribe themselves as Aristotelians rath­ by Douglas B. Rasmussen and Douglas J. Den Uyl. Open Court, 1991, xvi + er than as ObjectiVists. 268 pp, $49.95 he, $24.95 se. The point of departure for their ar­ gument is Rand's insight that values arise from the fact that liVing organisms must act to stay alive - to preserve their own existence. Because anything Post-Randian that exists has a specific nature, they go on to argue, the "natural end" for a liv­ Aristotelianism ing thing is to remain in existence as the kind of thing it is. Man is a rational ani­ mal- that is our distinctive essence­ so our natural end is to live as rational of liberalism who appeal to opponents beings. In this way, the authors give the David Kelley Aristotle's authority. Nevertheless, they Objectivist ethics a distinctly Aristote­ set themselves the task of reconciling lian spin. The ultimate value is not life Socialism is dead, but capitalism Aristotle with liberalism. More specifi­ has not yet arrived. Not in practice, as per se, in the sense of survival, but liv­ cally, they attempt to show that Aristo­ ing well, "flourishing," actualizing our the newspapers make depressingly tle's basic view of the world, including clear every day. And not in theory, ei­ potentialities. The book does not pro­ his ethics, can be detached from his po­ vide a complete or systematic account ther. It is not just that our universities litical conclusions and used as an intel­ of what flourishing is, but along the are filled with left-over leftists. Even lectual foundation for a free society. within the ranks of classical liberals, This task is somewhat less daunting the intellectual case for capitalism is than it may seem, because the essential still evolving. It is clear that the market connections were made by Ayn Rand. The authors give the Objec­ promotes freedom as well as prosperi­ In ethics, Aristotle held that the highest tivist ethics a distinctly ty. But what is the moral basis for hold­ value was happiness. And he meant in­ ing freedom and prosperity as values, dividual happiness, not the greatest Aristotelian spin. The ultimate as against the opposing values of egali­ happiness of the greatest number. He value is not life per se, in the tarians, environmentalists, and other was an ethical individualist, not a col­ sense of survival, but living anti-capitalists? What is the proper lectivist like Jeremy Bentham, John Stu­ way to formulate principles of individ­ art Mill, and their utilitarian followers. well, f'flourishing," actualiz­ ual rights, and how are these principles Aristotle held, moreover, that man's ing our potentialities. to be validated? These are among the distinctive means for achieving happi­ questions that still occupy political phi­ ness is the exercise of reason. Rand losophers. And they are among the showed how these two pillars - happi­ way the authors mention such items as questions addressed in Liberty and Na­ ness as a moral end, reason as the friendship, wealth, and productive ture:. An Aristotelian Defense of Liberal means - support a political philosophy work, as well as the exercise of such vir­ by Douglas Rasmussen and Order of individual rights.. tues as rationality, courage, and Douglas Den UyI, professors of philos­ Rand's influence on the book is ex­ integrity. ophy at St. John's University and Bel­ tensive. Rasmussen and Den Uyl,who In any case, they regard flourishing larmine College, respectively. As their previously edited The Philosophical as an objective value, with objective re­ subtitle indicates, they believe the case Thought ofAyn Rand, rely on her view of quirements for its realization. This claim for capitalism should be built on Aris­ certainty as contextual, of reason as the will raise some eyebrows. It is common­ totelian foundations. conceptual faculty, of free will as the ly thought that if there is an objective Aristotle held that man is a political choice to think, and of life as the basis truth about values, if certain things are animal who could hardly survive out­ of values. While Rand is frequently cit­ objectively good, then society may force side the state, that the state has the ed in the notes, however, she is not of­ its members to pursue them. The au­ function of promoting virtue in its citi­ ten mentioned in the text itself, and thors spend many pages arguing zens, and that the good of the individu­ there is no general discussion of her against this assumption. "As a human al is inseparably bound up with the viewpoint. As an Objectivist, I have being," they say, "the individual must good of society. Even apart from Aris­ mixed feelings about this. I would like conform to certain general requirements totle's notorious defense of slavery, to see her given more credit for her in­ of human flourishing dictated by hu­ these views make his political philoso­ sights and for the originality of her phil­ man nature itself. But as an individual, phy an uninviting habitat for classical osophical synthesis. On the other hand, unique circumstances, aptitudes, and in­ liberals, who advocate individualism, Rasmussen and Den Uyl side with Aris­ terests will particularize the mix" (64). limited government, and laissez faire. totle on a number of important issues This requires a pluralist society, in Indeed, as Rasmussen and Den Uyl ob­ where Rand parted company with him. which people are free to find their own serve, it is usually the communitarian In the end, I think they are wise to de- particular mode of happiness. (Else- 54 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

where, the authors observe that this in­ Liberty and Nature: An Aristotelian Defense ofLiberal Order, . dividualized view of objective value by Douglas B. Rasmussen and Douglas]. Den Uyl. Open Court, 1991, XVl + gives economists everything they need 268 pp, $49.95 he, $24.95 se. to explain trade; there is no need for a truly subjective theory of value.) More­ over - and more importantly - they claim that the exercise of reason and reasoned choice is not merely a means Different Routes, to the ultimate end. It is a constituent of the end itself. Acting on one's own judgment is a major component of Same Destination flourishing, and nothing else counts as an element of flourishing unless it is freely chosen. Thus a state that tries to teleology to bridge the "is/ought gap." force people to flourish is pursuing a Leland B. Yeager Values have a biocentric basis. The very contradiction. nature of each liVing thing and its own That is their central argument for In Liberty and Nature, Douglas Ras­ vital needs dictate to it the end or func­ individual rights and limited govern­ mussen and Douglas Den Uyl seek tion that is the source of all the values it ment. The purpose of rights is to define grounds in Aristotelian ethics for classi­ might have. "[B]eing self-directed or a "moral territory" around each indi­ cal liberalism, free markets, the individ­ autonomous ... is the virtue which vidual in which he has room to flour­ ual rights championed by John Locke makes all other virtues possible. . .. ish. Since we live and act in a physical and the American Founders, and a lim­ [W]e know that [it] is good or right sim­ world, this "moral territory" must in­ ited government to defend those rights. ply from our analysis of the nature of clude some actual territory: the right to Instead of focusing on general welfare human flourishing. Furthermore, we property is an essential human right. or conformity to rules, Aristotle fo­ know that being self-directed or auton­ Rasmussen and Den Uyl go on to argue cused on the individual and his respon­ omous is good for each and every hu­ that the legal framework of rights de­ sibility for his own character (or hers, man being just in virtue of their being fines the common good, the public in­ nowadays, as I need not repeat). A per­ human" (p. 11). terest. Despite the claims of son with healthy traits will interact But what makes the natural end of a collectivists, including many in the with his fellows in ways that Rasmus­ human being obligatory? Why should Aristotelian political tradition, there is sen and Den Uyl discuss with reference one live according to one's nature? no further content we can give to the to character-friendships, advantage­ Well, such a question "supposes that notion of the common good beyond the friendships, and a free, productive, and something else is required for there to protection of individual rights to pur­ pluralistic society. Going beyond Aris­ be values that are good." An infinite re­ sue individual goods. totle, the authors emphasize the moral gress in justifications is not possible, Like other individualists, Rasmus­ significance of liberty protected by however; "there must be something ul­ sen and Den Uyl understand rights in rights: it is necessary to the possibility timate; something which is simply the negative terms, as protections against of the individual's moral perfection. case" (49). The proposition about liVing other people. But they also understand Enforced virtue is a delusion. in accordance with one's nature neither that we are social animals in a positive In Rasmussen and Den Uyl's inter­ lends itself to proof nor requires any. sense, and that the bonds which hold pretation of Aristotle, the good for any Anyone challenging this "ultimate pre­ society together are not solely econom­ entity consists in the fullest unfolding scriptive premise" thereby accepts it ­ ic ones. Therefore, the combination of a of its nature. As rational and social and or so the authors maintain (SO). principle of rights and an economic un­ political animals, human beings find Remarks like these cover many pag­ derstanding of markets does not give their good in lives that develop and es and obscure just what the authors us everything we need in the way of a employ their potentialities in mutually may be claiming. Although their heart social theory. In their final chapter, beneficial interactions. Insistence on is with Ayn Rand on deriving "ought" they employ Aristotle's concept of each individual's responsibility for his from "is," they seem to be acknowledg­ friendship in an effort to layout the be­ own moral character and his own life is ing their ultimate failure and excusing ginnings of a positive social theory for compatible, of course, with recognizing it on the grounds that the project, rigor­ individualism. In essence, they try to great differences among human beings ously conceived, is impossible after all. define a middle position between what in their genetic endowments, formative A more straightforward position they see as two extremes. One extreme experiences, and aspirations. Humans would have been more satisfying. Ras­ is the conception of Homo economicus, can flourish through a great variety of mussen and Den Uyl might have frank­ who seeks the gratification of immedi­ specific accomplishments and satisfac­ ly .posited their fundamental value ate desire and agrees to a social con­ tions. judgment in favor of human flourish­ tract only when he sees that it serves Rasmussen and Den Uyl believe ing and invited their readers to suggest his economic interests. The other ex- they can justify their insistence on self­ alternatives if they could. In effect, if continued on page 57 development by invoking Aristotelian not avowedly, they adopt the position Liberty 55 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

of John Stuart Mill (Utilitarianism, near directed character of human flourish­ paraphrase her in several places while the start of chapter 4 and end of chap­ ing." Rights enter into "a legal system naming her only in the endnotes, ter 1): "[Q]uestions of ultimate ends do which defines a set of compossible terri­ which the inadequate index does not not admit of proof, in the ordinary ac­ tories that provides the necessary politi­ cover. (Available devices would have ceptation of the term. To be incapable cal condition for the possibility that made it easier for the reader to match of proof by reasoning is common to all individuals might carryon a life in ac­ up notes with the text they refer to. Al­ first principles.... Whatever can be cord with virtue. Rights are used to es­ ternatively, avoiding notes by in-text proved to be good must be so by being tablish the legal limits in which references to a bibliography would shown to be a means to something ad;. pluralism may express itself in relation have been helpful.) mitted to be good without proof." An to others" (115). On first reading the book and tak­ ultimate principle need not be accept­ Clearly, then, propositions about ing notes, I was enthusiastic about the ed or rejected, however, "on blind im­ rights emerge within a system of moral­ authors' insights because they meshed pulse or arbitrary choice. There is a ity and cannot be its very foundation. well with what I already believed. Hav­ larger meaning of the word proof.... The rights of rights-bearers imply ing to summarize their arguments now Considerations may be presented ca- that other people have the duty to re­ makes me realize how much they recite spect them. Partly because the duty eas­ abstractions at tedious length. iest to define and fulfill is ordinarily Still, the substance of what they say, that of noninterference, basic rights are if not their style, remains appealing. Ayn Rand is a major inspi­ for the most part negative rights: in the They disavow any claim to deduce the ration for Rasmussen and· Den pertinent fields of activity, people are detailed features of healthy social ar­ entitled not to be coerced and con­ rangements from an abstract theory of Uyl. Yet the extent of her in­ strained by others. Particular relations, natural rights, "independent of social fluence would hardly appear as between parties to a contract or be­ circumstances, history, and attitudes" from leafing through the book tween child and parent, can engende'r (128). Their hero Ayn Rand relied heav­ positive rights - entitlements to defi­ ily on empirical fact in developing her or glancing at the index, which nite actions by others. (Here I am em­ social philosophy: the characters and refers to her only twice. broidering on Rasmussen and Den Uyl, but I suppose they would agree.) It un­ dercuts the concept of rights, however, to invent supposed positive "rights" to pable of determining the intellect either all sorts of good things, such as ade­ Although their hearts are to give or withhold its assent to the doc­ quate health care and vacations with with Ayn Rand on deriving trine; and this is equivalent to proof." pay. "ought" from "is," they seem Rasmussen and Den Uyl try to base Rights concern interpersonal rela­ to be acknowledging their ulti­ personal or Lockean rights on a human tions. They hardly apply, as Rasmussen being's Aristotelian telos (129). (Actual­ and Den Uyl mention, where social life mate failure and excusing it on ly, they recommend the term "natural is impossible, as in lifeboat cases. the grounds that the project, rights" as more precise than "human While adapting and supplementing rigorously conceived, is impos­ rights.") A person must have rights to some of Aristotle's ideas, Rasmussen be able to take charge of his own life. and Den Uyl suffer no embarrassment sible after all. Lockean rights are the social and politi­ over differences between his doctrines cal expression of the claim that there is and their own. Aristotle did not present no higher moral purpose, no other end the modern concept of individual to be served, than the individual hu­ rights, and writing 21 centuries before events of her novels reveal keen obser­ man being's self-maintained and self­ Adam Smith, he had little appreciation vation of human nature and personal initiated achievement of his potentiali­ of the market economy. Some present­ and social psychology. While classify­ ties. Lockean rights are the only meta­ day "communitarian" critics of suppos­ ing their natural-end ethics in several normative principles prOViding the edly excessive individualism also claim ways - both teleological and deonto­ moral territories demanded by the indi­ inspiration in Aristotle. Rasmussen and logical in some senses but not in others vidualized and self-directed character Den Uyl argue that these critics of liber­ - Rasmussen and Den Uyl caution of human flourishing. These rights alism have overromanticized and over­ against detaching principles from any come from recognition that human be­ collectivized Aristotle's own views. contact with consequences. They thus ings cannot be ends-in-themselves save Ayn Rand is another major source of have empirical sympathies, even through their own self-directed behav­ Rasmussen and Den Uyl's inspiration. though they themselves do not cite any ior. Self-direction or autonomy is right Yet the extent of her influence would detailed empirical research. They seem in itself, and protecting its possibility is hardly appear from leafing through the ready to expose principles and inten­ objectively necessary for "a compossi­ book or glancing at the index, which re­ tions and character traits to consequen­ ble set of moral territories consistent fers to her only twice. Actually, Ras­ tialist evaluation. with the individualized and self- mussen and Den Uyl quote and Rasmussen and Den Uyl are candi- 56 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

dates, then, to be persuaded of a point eral times.) physical, biological, and social reality, urged by Jeffrey Friedman (Critical Re­ No more than Rasmussen and Den employing the same logic,and working view, Vol. 5, Spring 1991): it is counter­ Uyl must utilitarians conceive of happi­ with similar fundamental value judg­ productive to go on advocating ness as satisfaction of whatever prefer­ ments (for we are all the same kind of libertarianism with "sweeping ... phil­ ences and prejudices people may creature). Different styles of conveying osophical arguments [about] self­ happen already to have. They can agree broadly the same message are suitable ownership, a social contract, or human that tastes are subject to criticism in the for different contexts and audiences. nature" and about "our natural rights, light of what makes for a good life in Rather than engage in sectarian squab­ our inviolable consent, or our posses­ accordance with human potentiality bles, we who are trying to convey it sive nature" when these abstract argu­ and human nature. Willingness to criti­ should rejoice that we can arrive at basi­ ments are presented, as some rights cize tastes does not, of course, mean set­ cally the same doctrine by routes whose theorists do present them, out of con­ ting up an authority empowered to details differ strikingly if perhaps tact with "consequentialist" investiga­ impose on people the lifestyles it thinks superficially. tion of what arrangements make for best for them. Is it lame eclecticism to say this? No, harmony and prosperity rather than Rights theorists on the one hand and not in the sense of weaving together for discontent and starvation. (Fried­ indirect utilitarians on the other draw strands of doctrine arbitrarily plucked man seems to use "consequentialist" as inspiration from different sources, pre­ here and there to give representation to a euphemism for "utilitarian.") Surely fer different sets of terminology, and both or all sides. It is a different matter Friedman is right: it is preposterous to perhaps lay emphasis on different to draw facts and insights from deduce detailed positions on all sorts strands of the doctrine they basically wherever they occur, even if in the writ­ of ethical and policy issues from a very share. On the one hand we hear noble­ ings of authors whose overall doctrines few basic principles only. sounding phrases about autonomy, may diverge. The standard is empirical Rasmussen and Den Uyl reached self-direction, character-friendships, ad­ fact, logic, and fundamental value judg­ their foundation for classical liberalism vantage-friendships, human flourish­ ments; and to the extent that they ad­ through the writings of Aristotle, ing, natural rights, moral worth, and here to this standard, theorists Locke, and Rand. Another route (if I the like. The realities and aspirations to approaching political philosophy from may mention my own) passes through which such language refers are by no different directions will finally come the works of Mises, Hayek, Hazlitt, means to be scorned. At times, though, close together. Hume, John Stuart Mill, and Wilhelm it is refreshing to hear the hard-boiled, Rasmussen and Den Uyl have made Ropke - all economists - as well as of no-nonsense language of Ludwig von a solid contribution to this possibility of Thomas Hobbes, Ayn Rand, Mortimer Mises (and Henry Hazlitt and David rapprochement among superficially an­ Adler (an avowed Aristotelian), and, Hume and - dare I mention the name? tagonistic arguments for personal free­ more recently, R.M. Hare, the contem­ - Jeremy Bentham). Still, members of dom, capitalism, and limited govern­ porary utilitarian philosopher. The doc­ both camps are looking at the same ment. 0 trine emerging from their writings is rules-utilitarianism - or, better, indi­

rect utilitarianism. It gives prominent David KelleyI "Post-Randian Aristotelianisffi," continued from page 55 place, precisely on utilitarian grounds, to rights of the kinds mentioned in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. treme is the romantic conception of many types of relationships - not just Although Rasmussen and Den Uyl community as a giant family or net­ economic ones. As rational, conceptual do briefly try to distinguish their doc­ work of personal friends, where every­ beings, moreover, we need to see our trine from utilitarianism, they do not one cares for the well-being of his self-interest in long-range, principled stoop to the familiar bashing of unat­ fellows. terms. As they put it, in a nice sum­ tributed straw-man versions. The Rasmussen and Den Uyl argue that mary formulation, "It is thus neither "flourishing" of Aristotle and Rasmus­ most relationships in society, including advantage without principle nor princi­ sen and Den Uyl and the "happiness" of the utilitarians refer to pretty much the civic bonds that make us members ple beyond advantage that characteriz­ the same ultimate criterion of ethical of one political unit, must be "advan­ es the nature of the civic life" (184). In principles, character traits, disposi­ tage-friendships," based on the expec­ this respect, they note the importance tions, institutions, and policies. Both tation of mutual gain, rather than for a free society of a shared civic cul­ are comprehensive words that admit of "character-friendships," in which we ture in which the value of individuality a good deal of unpacking. Since social value the other for his own sake. But and freedom are explicitly recognized cooperation is indispensable to "flour­ advantage-friendships are not to be un­ and celebrated. ishing" or "happiness," Rasmussen derstood in hedonist terms. Our self­ Liberty and Nature is not a lean book. and Den Uyl and utilitarians alike interest lies in flourishing, not in the Many of the calories you'll consume should be able to accept it as a surro­ gratification of immediate desire, and reading it are not going to build intel­ gate criterion. (Rasmussen and Den thus includes the exercise of such social lectual muscle. The authors have a ten­ Uyl do mention social cooperation sev- virtues as justice and the enjoyment of dency to state the same point seventeen Liberty 57 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992 different ways without ever quite set­ The problem here is an occupational problem. By incorporating all the cardi­ tling on the one they like best. They hazard for philosophers, who are nal values and virtues into the funda­ also spend more time than is necessary trained first and foremost in critical mental end, the concept attempts to on administrative matters - describ­ analysis and the art of refutation. It is a escape the need of proving that they ing in advance what the structure of special hazard for those defending a are necessary menns to the end. For ex­ their argument is going to be, summar­ view outside the mainstream in philos­ ample, Rasmussen and Den Uyl say izing where they have been and what ophy. To be effective, outsiders must that we don't need to prove that integ­ they think they have established, and show how their position relates to the rityand friendship promote the end of constantly - almost obsessively - po­ conventional wisdom. But it is all the human flourishing. "Rather, we just sitioning themselves in relation to oth- more important for them to make it need to know that maintaining integri­ clear that their context, their widest ty or having a friendship is one of the frame of reference, is reality, not the final ends which constitute human . universe of existing theories about reali­ flOUrishing" (61). But then how do we The combination ofa princi- ty. It is ironic that Rasmussen and Den know this? How do we identify the pIe of rights and an economic Uyl are epistemological realists who constituents of flourishing if not by es­ · if k d consider it possible to discover philo- tablishing their causal relationship to understan dlng 0 mar ets oes sophical truth, yet write at times as if survival? The authors say that we iden­ not give us everything we need they accepted Richard Rorty's view that tify the constituents "by everything we in the way ofa social theory. philosophers can only continue a con- can learn from experience regarding versation begun by others. the needs of human life" (69), but how The most important question about do we establish that something is a Liberty and Nature, however, is whether need except by proving that a failure to er theories. A certain amount of this is its central argument is sound. Have the satisfy it would impair an organism's necessary, but there's too much here. If authors given us the case for freedom in ability to preserve itself? this book were a business enterprise, I its strongest form? It seems to me there In short, it seems to me that the con­ would urge the owners to stop tinker­ are problems at three crucial junctures: cept of flourishing, like the concept of ing with the accounting system and the concept of flourishing as an end in polishing the annual report, and spend itself, the derivation of rights, and the more time moving product out the case for property rights. door. The concept of flourishing is intro­ Even if I understand that In addition to the positive case for duced as an Aristotelian amendment to freedom, the book is filled· with critical the Objectivist ethics. Objectivism holds your freedom is good for you in analyses of other theorists: Robert No­ that life is the fundamental value, be­ exactly the way that my free­ zick, Alan Gewirth, Jacques Maritain, cause it represents the alternative of ex­ dom is good for me, I don't yet John Finnis, Alasdair MacIntyre, and istence or non-existence facing any have a reason for regarding David Norton, to name a few. Many of organism. Rasmussen and Den Uyl are these polemical sections are very well concerned, however, that life in the your freedom as agood for me.· done. But I often had the sense overall sense of "mere" survival will not give that the polemical tail was wagging the us much of an ethical code. "Flourish­ philosophical dog. The introductory ing" is supposed to be a richer concept: chapter, for example, is devoted to an­ it means living well, through the reali­ instinct in animal psychology, is an in­ swering various contemporary critics of zation of a wide range of our capacities. tellectual cul-de-sac. References to "in­ Aristotelianism, for the purpose, in the But then how do we determine what is stincts" are harmless enough in authors' words, of "prOViding the foun­ involved in flourishing? In Ayn Rand's ordinary contexts, but they give only dational legitimacy for the chapters approach, every value and every virtue the illusion of a theoretical understand­ that follow." As a general rule, howev­ that goes to make up a good .life must ing why animals act as they do. In the er, one cannot establish a position by be shown to have a bearing on survival; same way, "flourishing" does capture refuting its opponents; one must make in one way or another, it must enhance an aspect, perhaps the essential aspect, a positive case for it. In the course of the prospects for self-preservation. Es­ of a happy life, but it gives us only the their critical remarks, Rasmussen and tablishing these connections is a very illusion of a philosophical understand­ Den Uyl do make a number of solid large task, and I don't think Objectivists ing why certain things are objectively points about the objectivity of values, have fully carried it out. But it is an in­ valuable. the nature of ethical principles, and oth­ escapable task, for only the alternative The second major problem of sub­ er important matters. But these points of existence or non-existence can sus­ stance in Liberty and Nature concerns come across as isolated claims serving tain a nonarbitrary normative judgment the derivation of rights. A teleological the ad hoc purpose of answering a par­ that something is good, right, or ethic must show that rights serve a pur­ ticular theorist, rather than as elements virtuous. pose. If we are individualists, the pur­ in an integrated, positive view of the So far as I can see, the concept of pose cannot be a collective one, such as world. flourishing is an attempt to skirt the "the greatest good of the greatest num- 58 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 Jul 1992 ber." But neither can we base rights on ber of general themes - for example, individual goods that are subjective that the freedom to use and dispose of and idiosyncratic, for there is no way material things is an essential part of the How to to show that freedom is necessary for more general right of autonomous ac­ everything that anyone might desire. tion, since all action takes place in the Rasmussen and Den Uyl are right on material world; and that property is an Subscribe the money, therefore, when they say extension of the self. But these general that rights must be derived from an ob­ points won't get them the full classical jective end common to all human be­ liberal right of private ownership. The to ings. Thus they emphasize that self­ key issue, as they note, is not the right to directedness - the free exercise of rea­ act freely on unowned things, but the Liberty son in action - is a good for each and right to retain possession of and exclude every person, in each and every realm others from things one has transformed of life. by one's labor. They claim that "for indi­ Liberty takes individual vidual human beings to flourish, they freedom seriously ... and need to maintain control of what they have produced" (116). But so far as I can the status quo with more Aristotle's political philoso­ see this claim is not supported by any than one grain of salt! real argument; and it is not even clear, Liberty tackles the tough problems. phy is an uninviting habitat as noted above, what kind of argument Every issue of Liberty presents es­ for advocates of limited gov­ is necessary to establish claims about says studying current trends in ernment and laissez faire. the components of flourishing. political and social thought, discus­ Rasmussen and Den Uyl also sug­ sions of the strategy and tactics of gest that the burden of proof is on those social change, and analyses of cur­ who want to limit ownership rights in rent events and challenges to popu­ one's product, rather than on those who So far, so good. This shows that lar beliefs. Liberty also offers lively see this right as absolute. But legions of book reviews, fiction, and humor. each of us needs the protection offered contemporary collectivists are happy to You won't want to miss a single by a principle of rights. But it doesn't take on this burden. Often indeed they issue! show why we should respect the rights operate within the broad framework of of others. Even if I understand that a self-realization ethic, arguing that cer­ Act Today! your freedom is good for you in exact­ tain material conditions - adequate Liberty offers you the best in liber­ ly the way that my freedom is good for food, shelter, etc. - must be supplied tarian thinking and writing. So me, I don't yet have a reason for re­ by the state in order to allow everyone don't hesitate. You have nothing to garding your freedom as a good for me. the opportunity to flourish. To answer lose, and the fruits of Liberty to But this is precisely the point that must this argument, one must at some point gain! be established if we are going to vali­ establish the principle that one person's date rights on the basis of ethical ego­ need is not a moral claim on the wealth Use the coupon below or call: ism. Logically speaking, there are a produced by others. This principle is number of ways to go about trying to implicit in the book, but never made establish this point, but all of them re­ explicit. 1-800-321-1542 quire us to show that people's interests In presenting these problems as do not conflict at any fundamental lev­ starkly as I have, I do not mean to im­ ... ------, el. If such conflicts do occur as part of ply that Rasmussen and Den Uyl are ,Please enter my subscription to Liberty immediately! the normal course of life, then it may unaware of them. It's just that I don't Yes. be that I have to regard your freedom think they have solved the problems. o One Full Year (6 issues) $19.50 as a threat to mine. Rasmussen and Nevertheless, I would say that Liberty o Two Full Years (12 issues) $35.00 Den Uyl do not address this issue ex­ and Nature is worth reading for anyone Add $5 per year for foreign subscriptions. cept in the most glancing ways. Even with a serious interest in the pOlitical though they accept Rand's principle philosophy of classical liberalism. The name

that every good must be good to some­ central argument of the book is original address one, they seem to hold that if my free­ in many respects, and it is adorned dom is good for me and yours for you, with a number of insights along the city, state, zip then the situation in which we're both way. Even if one finds their approach o I enclose my check (payable to Liberty) o Charge my 0 VISA 0 Mastercard free is good, period, and there's the unsatisfactory, it is illuminating to view end of the matter. the landmarks of classical liberal The final problem I want to mention thought - natural rights, contract theo­ signature concerns the authors' treatment of ry, the subjective theory of value in eco­ property rights, which I found especial­ nomics, and so on - through account # expires Iy hard to follow. They sound a num- Aristotelian eyes. 0 Send to: Liberty, Dept. L30, L Box 1167, Port Townsend, WA 98368 ..1 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

Rude Awakenings: What the Homeless Crisis Tells Us, topic by writing, "civilized peoples by Richard W. White, Jr. les Press, 1992, 333 pp., $24.95. cannot determine the conditions of their daily lives in adversarial proceed­ ings: it is time for us to learn again to live together" (56). Locking trouble­ some people up in mental hospitals How Not to seems an odd way "to learn to live to­ gether." White's brand of "self­ governance" seems to have provenance Help the Homeless far beyond what the normal person would think of as the "self." White recognizes that a free-market neuroses of the middle class than to the housing solution for the socially­ Brian Doherty seriously dysfunctional. A decent point disconnected poor is not permitted to about how government's bad decisions work. He quotes a for-profit developer Richard White's Rude Awakenings at­ exacerbate social problems, perhaps, but tempts to be encyclopedic in its review he then goes on ~o denigrate lawyers of recent literature on homelessness, who fight for the right of the mentally ill even as it acknowledges that the "cri­ to refuse treatment. Here he shows little White shows little apprecia­ sis" is not as severe as activists and the appreciation for the attitudes toward tion for the attitudes toward media claim. After analyzing a wide our fellows that make for successful self­ variety of popular theses as to the cause governance. These attitudes require a our fellows that make for suc­ of homelessness, White finds one con­ consideration of others' rights - claims cessful self-governance. These ceptual common denominator: the fail­ on us to let others pursue their own pro­ attitudes require a considera­ ure of "self-governance." (The book is jects while they let us pursue ours. tion of others' rights - claims "a publication of the Center for Self­ Indeed, White has contempt for the Governance.") Szaszian notion that mental patients on us to let others pursue their Unfortunately, White refuses to take should have the same rights as the rest own projects while they let us the idea of self-governance very seri­ of us. "Whatever the theoretical justice pursue ours. 0usly. He uses the phrase in a curious of making it extremely difficult to con­ rhetorical fashion that reveals a failure fine or restrain mentally ill individuals to understand why genuine self­ or to force them to take medicine, the governance is necessary to forge a satis­ problems and financial costs brought jealous of the success of a nonprofit fying, livable social order. White writes about thereby are considerable," White low-income housing project: "If you that "self-governance implies not only writes (47). But making decisions about were to give the so-called 'failed' devel­ that each person or family can take care others' lives on the basis of their costs to opers all of the special tax credits and of itself but also a mutual obligation for you is not self-government; it is tyran­ exemptions from zoning rules and de­ the quality of our lives" (p. 152). This ny. Nonetheless, White casually dis­ velopment fees, they could probably sounds nice, but his book shows nu­ misses any question of rights in his cost make this project pencil out too" (161). \ merous examples of how this "obliga­ calculation because "society does not Exactly. In a housing market free of tion" toward those who feel no work when it is run on an adversary ba­ tax, zoning, building code, and fee im­ obligation toward others (drug abusers, sis or abstract conceptions of what is pediments by the government, provid­ fathers who abandon their children, right and just" (35). ing housing to all levels of income people who leave livable homes for This dismissal of "abstract concep­ could be profitable. homeless shelters in order to get on tions" enables White to violate logic But White refuses to go this far. He waiting lists for more desirable public­ and lapse into incoherence. In one par­ worked in federal anti-poverty pro­ ly-funded housing) exacerbates prob­ agraph, for instance, he writes that it is grams for twenty years, and proudly lems it ostensibly addresses. "morally questionable, legally dubious, states that the experience made both The first sign that White is slipping and politically difficult to punish peo­ liberals and conservatives shift toward in his dedication to genuine self­ ple for having nowhere to live," and in a more "realistic" middle. From this governance comes in his chapter excori­ the next that "we do not have a legal center White refuses to budge, waving ating the deinstitutionalization of the obligation to let anyone live in the park the badge of self-governance but not mentally ill. White notes an 80 percent or anywhere else" (40) - begging the letting its implications play themselves reduction in beds occupied by the men­ question of what "we" are then to do out. Over and over, White stares the tally ill in state hospitals from 1955-1984 with "them." correct conclusions in the face - and (29). He blames this trend on shifts in White proposes involuntary confine­ then backs off. government funding from state mental ment and medication as a solution to He concludes with a suggestion that hospitals to Community Mental Health the problem of the homeless "mentally is apparently intended to be inspiration­ Centers, which cater more to the mild ill," yet concludes his chapter on the al: we need to call on the resources of 60 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

"millions of federal, state, and local em­ of government workers be set free to Though the Enlightenment faith in sci­ ployees in a program to restore and provide services people would be will­ ence as a source of progress has im­ help sustain the self-governing of ing to pay for in a free market. bued all social sciences with a sense of American families and communities. Self-governance demands a larger mission, these days it is running on Government workers can communicate philosophical framework that recog­ hard times: "social scientists outside ec­ an optimistic, productive, and publicly nizes the reasons we have for letting onomics ... have begun to have more responsible attitude throughout the people govern themselves, the advan­ doubts. Today, it is the members of the public sector. Strongly improved re­ tages that accrue in prosperity and economics profession who offer the sults are likely to follow" (284). happiness. And it needs a concept that strongest assurances." What kind of as­ His book, however, provides no defines the boundaries between self­ surances? "Economists argue that ­ support for this. optimism. It demon­ government and the government of beneath the surface of what often ap­ strates how modern welfare programs others, the concept of rights. But White pears to be widespread ignorance, mis­ have broken down social and familial explicitly denies the value of rights, calculation, and self-deception - there bonds, how government housing pro­ condemning them as "anti-social: one are in fact deep and powerful forces at grams punish market initiative and en­ gets something without giving work that obey rationally discoverable courage those who could struggle and anything" (246). laws." According to Nelson, econo­ remain in the mainstream to give up. I'll let that quote stand by itself, mists have kept the Enlightenment So why place faith in more of the bu­ more shocking in its way than any of fai th "that the behavior of individuals reaucratic tinkering that has let down the blunders and failures of either the is not random but follows definite di­ both the homeless and those who suf­ governments or the individuals that rections that are grounded in the fer their presence? Better these millions make up the homelessness problem. 0 rational" (5). Unfortunately, Nelson never ade­ Reachingfor Heaven on Earth: The Theological Meaning ofEconomics, quately distinguishes between "faith in by Robert H. Nelson. Rowman & Littlefield, 1991, xxvii + 377pp., $24.95. science" and religious faith, and seems to take an agnostic attitude toward the validity of scientific method, at least as it applies to economics and theology (though he does mention that the pre­ God and Man at Bay? dictions of economists stand up very well when compared to the prophecies of the divines). His discussion of meth­ od in economics is almost nil, and his Timothy Virkkala could live in a happy harmony and discussion of method in theology is devote themselves to the higher and nonexistent. Despite trenchant discus­ sion of Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, "Priests of old usually asked wheth­ finer things of life. (p. 2) and Calvin, he never really gives the er an action was consistent with God's Nelson has found the parallels be­ reader a good idea of what theology is design for the world," writes Robert tween economics and theology so strik­ all about. Nelson. "In the message of contempo­ ing that he has devoted nearly four Nelson uses the phrase "economic rary economics the laws of economic hundred pages of Reaching for Heaven theology" to call our attention to the efficiency and of economic growth on Earth to describing them. In so do­ social function of economics as the dis­ have replaced the divine plan." Eco­ ing, he has produced a delightful and cipline of political legitimation. This nomics, he claims, is today fulfilling a challenging book, one of the most en­ peculiar construction rests on an odd role claimed by theology in times past. joyable treatments of intellectual histo­ working definition of theology. Nelson Secular progress has made both relig­ ry to come along in years. uses the word "theology" instead of ious messianism and religious perfec­ But I confess, my pleasure in read­ "philosophy" or some other seemingly tionism obsolete. ing this book was not that of the awe­ struck acolyte; I did not feel that I had more appropriate phrase because it For many modem men and women, "more precisely suggests a system of the power to eliminate evil in the received the gospel truth. Indeed, as much of the book's value lies in its er­ thought that is a source of fundamental world is no longer a divine preroga­ meaning and purpose" (xxv). But theol­ tive, but is instead primarily a matter rors as in its successes, and disagreeing ogy primarily deals with the attributes of eliminating economic scarcity. If with Nelson is as much fun as agreeing of God, and Nelson seems interested all important material needs could with him. be fully satisfied - economic theolo­ only in the attributes of man. Though gy preaches - then the main cause The Evanescence "theology" finds its way onto nearly of past wars, hatreds, and other of the Divine Idea every page, God's name is dropped banes of human history would be Nelson suggests that economics has with alarming infrequency, and is, of ended. There would be far less basis supplanted theology because of the sci­ course, not cited in the index. for envy, jealousy, and other sources entific revolution; faith in science, he There are aspeets of Christian theol­ of evil thoughts and actions. People says, has replaced faith in God. ogy that would have helped make his Liberty 61 VolumeS, Number 6 July 1992

points much better, but he mostly ig­ cess of human development" (31). He less, its decrees must be obeyed until nores them. He never mentions such lists 15 characteristic views of those in God - or history - finally opens the theological subdisciplines as soteriolo­ this tradition: way to a happier destiny" (55). Nel­ gy (the science of salvation) and escha­ 1. The world is rational; nature, in­ son's list of characteristic Protestant tology (the science of the "last days"), cluding man, is guided by the dic­ views diverges dramatically from the both of which make the theory of di­ tates of reason Roman: vinity relevant to flesh-and-blood hu­ 2. The material and external world 1. The human condition in this man beings. Since Nelson is trying to are the original and fundamental re­ world is deep alienation from origi­ ality - not the world of the mind nal and true nature. and ideas. 2. Owing to man's corrupted condi­ 3. Men are in principle capable of tion, reason is unreliable, often a Nelson tells a story of a line discovering and understanding the source of delusion. rationality of human existence. 3. Existing law is a corrupted prod­ of thought's progress. He 4. Systematic scientific investiga­ uct - like reason - of current hu­ presents not arguments but ex­ tion is required to uncover the ration­ man depravity. planations, not analyses but allaws of nature, demanding careful 4. Justice is not to be found in the research and studies. rational, but in the iron dictates of interpretations, not debate but 5. .Progress is found in gradual God or history. vision. movement toward a natural and ra­ 5. The ways of the world are re­ tional destiny. vealed to men not through reason, 6. Valid law is natural law, which but through revelation. should govern humanity. 6. True progress demands a revolu­ 7. Justice is what is rational, which tionary transformation of human get a handle on the idea of progress, is common to all. and has chosen an analogy between ec­ existence. 8. Because all humanity shares the 7. The current world is destined for onomics and theology to do so, he same reason, all men are fundamen­ sin; the triumph of virtue must await might have profited by exploring) in tally equal. a heaven in the hereafter or the arri­ greater depth the eschatological dimen­ 9. Life is lived to achieve happiness; val of an earthly heaven. sion of theological traditions, and a utilitarian goal is appropriate for 8. Mankind is .divided among the called that domain by its name. His mankind. saved and the condemned, the super­ two-page general discussion of the ide­ 10. Society is an organic communi­ ior and the inferior groups. as of salvation and the various forms of ty steered for the common good. 9. Life is lived not for happiness, millenarianism is not really adequate. 11. Private property is a beneficial but for disciplined labor in the ser­ Indeed, Nelson leaves quite a few instrument of the common good. vice of God or history. promising areas of inquiry alone. But 12. It is natural and just to pursue 10. Self-interest and economic com­ then, given the nature of his book, this is one's self-interest. petition exert an evil influence in the not necessarily out of line. Reaching for 13. The poor are deserving: Society affairs of man. Heaven on Earth is not a theoretical trea­ has the strong obligation to support 11. Communal living and common them as fellow members of the tise on the relation between religion and ownership are the highest form of community. science. It is a story of a line of thought's existence. 14. Wisdom is found in moder­ progress. It presents not arguments but 12. Government, like property, is a ation. coercive social instrument designed explanations, not analysis but interpre­ 15. This-worldy, commonsensical, to control sinful and unruly natures. tations, not debate butvision. and pragmatic attitudes best serve 13. The poor are responsible for the needs of humanity. (31) Theological Personae their fate; society must not coddle As the old adage tells us, there are Nelson's second category is the them. two kinds of people: those who divide "Protestant tradition," which includes 14. Moderation is banality; pragma­ people into two groups, and those who thinkers as diverse as Plato, Augustine, tism is a sign of weakness. don't. Nelson, a divider, splits theologi­ Karl Marx, and Herbert cal and economic thinkers into two Spencer. For these thinkers, categories. the moral status of law is He calls his first category "the Ro­ "much less exalted.... Law man tradition," after both the empire is necessary in the Protes­ and the Catholic Church. The thinkers tant tradition, but is merely he discusses under this rubric range a coercive device required from Aristotle to Paul Samuelson. "The to keep wicked men from leading figures of the Roman tradi­ doing still greater damage tion," he claims, "have not been the to one another. Indeed, all great revolutionaries of history, but government is seen in this men who typically saw moderation as a light, as a sinful product of ''Wait a minute - Freud never said 'a dream is a wish virtue and favored an incremental pro- man's condition. Neverthe- the heart makes' !" 62 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6

"The point is not that 15. The record of history is not (yes, this makes sense), Luther, and plundering the rich is immoral, but that it doesn't pay, doesn't progress, but retrogression-the fall Calvin to such secular theorists as Rous­ reduce but increases inequality... " of man. (53) seau, Darwin, and Marx is no less Doubts naturally arise upon com­ provocative. paring these two lists: how can so The problem with his treatment of UP from LlBERTARIANI!M many qualities be kept separate in so the Protestants, however, is readily ap­ by D. G. Lesvic many different thinkers? Don't most parent: only one of them is an economist ...offers a new economic argument for people liberally mix the Roman and (Karl Marx). Truth is, very few econo­ freedom, and answers its foremost critics, Rothbard, White, Hazlett, and Protestant views? Is there any point in mists fit the Protestant mold. They tend Friedman, with their own words! trying to keep, in our heads, these two not to see the human lot in such catas­ traditions distinct? trophic and bleak terms, and such para­ The Political Economy Club of Los Angeles 5668 Cahuenga Blvd., #313 There is no obvious theoretical rea­ digmatically Protestant concepts as North Hollywood, CA 91601 son. But Nelson is not a pure theorist alienation and irrationality do not fit $4.00 ppd. like Ludwig von Mises; he is a vision­ well with such tools as demand sched­ ary historian like Camille Paglia. The ules, indifference curves, and the like. r------, reader should expect his book to begin To make the Protestant tradition rele­ The Liberty Poll a hundred arguments, and not end a vant to real, practicing economists, a single one of them. In Nelson's words, more extended discussion of actual, dis­ What Libertarians Think "Rather than the scientific method, the senting economists would have been in The first detailed study of what libertari­ ans think about life, government, God, sex, method of history is in large part the order. But Nelson pushes right ahead heroes ... and how they would deal with art of persuasion. In history, the best with his survey, capping his chapter some serious moral problems. Now com­ test is whether readers are convinced: "The Protestant Church of Darwin" with plete with data from the original poll to Lib­ Does the historical interpretation illu­ a discussion of Sigmund Freud! erty subscribers and the poll of Libertarian minate and make more comprehensi- He also places nineteenth-century Party members. $4.00 each, ppd.; Britain's most prominent individualist, $3.00 each for 5 or more copies. Herbert Spencer, in this list. This seems more than a bit wrong-headed to me. I Ayn Rand and Postmodern theory recog­ can think of few figures who more even­ ly straddle Nelson's Roman/Protestant Her Movement nizes diversity and even en­ fence than Spencer. The supreme ration­ In an exclusive interview, Barbara Bran­ compasses chaos, in ways that alist of his time, and the author of an am­ den reveals intimate details of life inside Rand's circle. The fascinating topics in­ the old line ofequilibrium eco­ bitious ten-volume synthesis of clude the weird psychological manipula­ philosophy and science, Spencer never­ tions within the group, the expulsion of nomics sought to deny. theless was his age's most consistent crit­ members in kangaroo courts, the glaring er­ ic of the popular rationalisms that placed rors in Nathaniel Branden's memoir about faith in reason as man's salvation - or his affair with Rand, and Rand's fight in a posh Manhattan restaurant with Alan even as man's chief characteristic. An ev­ ble the events of the past and the Greenspan. olutionist with a healthy fear of revolu­ This account, expanded from its original present? Success ... is not to be judged tionary change, Spencer believed that printing in the January 1990 Liberty, in­ immediately, but only after ample dis­ social change must proceed slowly, so cludes information that cannot be found in any other source. And it is available only cussion ..." (xxiv) ll- that people could adapt to changing cir­ Do Nelson's two categories help or­ from Liberty Publishing. cumstance; but he held to a radical politi­ $4.00 each, ppd. ganize the history of thought about cal ideal, and combined an almost Liberty Publishing "the good life"? I think it does. View­ utopian future vision with a millenari­ PO Box 1167 ing John Locke, Adam Smith, and Jere­ an's belief in its inevitability. His notion Port Townsend, WA 98368 my Bentham as members in good of virtue as habitual behavior best adapt­ L .J standing of the Roman tradition of so­ ed to a given social state has a distinctly cial thought strikes me as almost in­ Roman flavor; but. his warnings that spired - though including socialist many conceptions of virtue and "the nutcase Claude Henri de Saint-Simon good" were often either too old­ Learn at Liberty in the list is a bit jarring. His discus­ fashioned or too new-fashioned to have Liberty offers full-time internships sion of the Protestant tradition, com­ any practical relevance, and that a stoic to students of all majors interested in paring such theologians as Augustine acceptance of hardship was the best atti­ journalism, writing, political philoso­ tude regarding some social ills, has a de­ phy or public policy. Positions are cidedly Protestant odor. Too much of available at all times of the year. For further information, write to: .. Eager praxeologists may insert their own Nelson's characterization of Spencer Liberty discussion of Mises' Theory and History seems strained, overemphasiZing the here; I have neither the patience nor the Protestant at the expense of the Roman; POBox 1167 heart to do it. almost everything said about him in this Port Townsend, WA 98368. Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992 section better applies to America's most progress. Indeed, of all nations the ly painless dentistry, effective contra­ eminent laissez-faire Social Darwinist, United States ... has illustrated the ception, quick and inexpensive trans­ William Graham Sumner. And since characteristic outlooks of this tradi­ portation, a near universal access to the Sumner was an economist as well as a tion better than any other. (175) music of the ages. Progress can be be­ sociologist, a discussion of him, rather This, despite America's largely Prot­ lieved to be both possible and desirable; than Spencer, might have fit better to estant religiOUS heritage. Though Nel­ when calamities occur, progress simply Nelson's purpose. son argues that the w hole of the isn't happening. That is why we call nat­ What is Nelson's excuse for treating American tradition fits this characteri­ ural and social disasters "setbacks" and non-economists at length in this sec- zation, he is most convincing when he "tragedies." The more pertinent ques­ moves from the earlier, individualist tions are how do we know what progress is, phase to the present era. The stolid, Ro­ when it occurs? and how can we ensure man character of modern social engi­ that progress will occur? Nelson is not a pure theorist neers is convincingly sculpted, and But while reading Nelson's discus­ like Ludwig von Mises, but a their visions of progress carefully set in sion of the American welfare state and place. And nowhere else is Nelson's its "economist priesthood," I experi­ visionary historian like Ca­ analogy between religion and social sci­ enced some Protestant knee-jerks, sym­ mille Paglia. His book begins a ence more persuasive than in this pathizing for once with the likes of hundred arguments, but does section. Lasch. The hubristic confidence and in­ Constituting yet another modem eco­ trusive meddling of America's social not end a single one ofthem. nomic theology, American progressi­ engineers is more than a little sickening. vism once again preached a message I eagerly moved on to Nelson's optimis­ of salvation through economic tic final section on "postmodern eco­ nomics," which treats both real-world tion, when his book is ostensibly about progress. Still another Roman priest­ hood, the members of the U.S. eco­ trends and intellectual movements. economics? I suspect that he is not real­ nomics and other social science Nelson dubs as "postmoderns" some ly interested in the positive, scientific professions, would emerge in the of today's most interesting economic aspects of the science. (In his preface he progressive era to spread the mes­ theorists: Mancur Olson, Donald confesses that he lost his faith in wertfrei sage of the economic redemption of McCloskey, James Buchanan, Kenneth economics some years ago.) He is much mankind. (175-6) Boulding. These economists tend to see more concerned with what Thomas Provocative, yes. Controversial, too the world as a less manageable place Sowell has called "visions of social than did their precursors in the econom­ causation"; that is, with one's basic out­ -I suspect that admirers of the Pro­ ic mainstream of the Keynesian/neo­ look, the values presupposed by the gressive era might not care for the com­ classical synthesis. Postmodern theory outlook, and the moral and political parison. But the bold assertions are recognizes diversity and even encom­ prescriptions that follow from these vi­ borne out in the analysis, and the char­ passes chaos in ways that the old line of sions and values. And economists are acterization has more than a ring of equilibrium economics sought to deny. not the only ones influenced by such vi­ truth. Postmodern economists are making sions; ecologists, sociologists, and psy­ Progress or Regress? room for disequilibrium - and for chologists have them, too. The "conflict At about the same time that Robert widely divergent schools of thought. In of visions" can work its way upon so­ Nelson's tome hit the bookstores, a Nelson's words, "As Christianity earlier cial life through the preachings of non­ book on a similar topic, with a similar had to come to terms with a seeming economists as well as economists. After title, appeared from American social permanent pluralism within institution­ all, one can hardly assert that Rousseau, critic Christopher Lasch. In The True al religion, modern secular thought is to­ Darwin, and Freud failed to make their and Only Heaven, Lasch asked, "How day being compelled - and not without mark on history. does it happen that serious people con­ Nelson's best use of the distinction great stresses and strains - to consider tinue to believe in progress, in the face between the Roman and Protestant tra­ the prospect of a long-term social and of massive evidence that might have ditions is in his fascinating survey of economic pluralism. Indeed, such a plu­ been expected to refute the idea once the American political tradition, from ralism could well be a defining feature and for all?" For Lasch, "the persistence the founding period through Progressi­ of the 'postmodern' world - the emer­ of a belief in progress in a century of ca­ vism to the welfare state. gence of which many social thinkers are lamities" is anomalous. now predicting" (257). Ifthe good life is for the Roman tradi­ My usual reaction to such trendy, Nelson's own prophecy is that an tion the proper goal on this earth, sophistic pessimism is to break the idea familiar to libertarians through Americans ... typically agree. If the question into pieces and expose the fal­ writers as dissimilar as Mises and Jane Roman tradition has seen all man­ kind as fundamentally equal, it has lacies. Intelligent people can "believe" Jacobs will become the next major revo­ been America that has opened its bor­ in progress with good faith. For one lutionary social development: the right ders widest to the immigrants of the thing, this has been more than a mere of "free secession." He sees this propo­ world offering the opportunity to "century of calamities." Consider just a sal - ensuring that any geographical participate in the forward march of few of its positive developments: near- area may secede from Its larger, over- 64 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992 arching political jurisdiction - as al­ as free markets and free trade - which ty - until the awful day the "aliens" lowing for a new, culturally diverse Nelson suggests that the right of free invaded. world to cope with a plurality of phi­ secession might supersede - I've got Who are the aliens? Well, humans, losophies, "economic theologies," and to admit that he has his heart in the basically. But not all humans; just those life-styles. Although he does not deal right place. who have vaulted out of their natural with many of the problems economists He is surely right to believe that evolutionary niche on the African might have with this program, I believe pluralism is the great challenge of the plain. Man's "big brain" allowed him he is on the right track. emerging world order. He is also on the to "shortcut evolution" and go places The right of free secession points to money to insist that whatever economic previously forbidden him. Unfortu­ the kind of constitutional rules that may situation emerges, it must have a moral nately, because turf is limited, he drove be necessary to achieve and maintain component, and that this morality must other creatures to extinction, thus "for peace in a rapidly changing world. deal with a plurality of cultures and the first time" decreasing diversity, and Even if we ultimately find this proposal peoples head on. After all, this is what therefore decreasing stability, which is wanting, it is an admirable attempt to that old "Protestant" heretic - and li­ (we are told) a bad thing. Apparently, break out of the ruts of the old debate bertarian - Herbert Spencer suggested scriptwriter David Helton missed concerning centralization, federalism, long ago, when he defined progress as school the day his biology class learned and independence. In any case, Nelson an increasing degree of both heteroge­ that the number of species has been cannot be faulted for irrelevance; devo­ neity and integration, and ethics as the fluctuating for as long as we can deci­ lution of political jurisdictions is a hot habits and rules that allow people to pher fossil records. topic in the former U.S.S.R., Czechoslo­ adapt to their evolving situation. Nel­ Humans faced limits, too - initially vakia, Yugoslavia, South Africa, Ethio­ son may not have come up with the at least. Fishermen in Nassau, for exam­ pia, and even Canada. best way to deliver this message ­ ple, could only row so many miles out Though I have more confidence in "economic theology"? really! - but he to sea to catch grouper. In time, howev­ the feasibility and relevance of such is nevertheless onto something er, "almost like magic," internal com­ older-fashioned classical liberal notions important. 0 bustion engines replaced human arms as the means of propulsion. Here Hel­ Energy Wars, produced by Keith Scholey, written by David Helton, ton's contempt for humanity starts to narrated by Robert Lindsay, photography by Owen Newman. BBC, 1992. get thick. (What sort of human would think an outboard motor "magical"? Only those whose intellects haven't transcended their original niche.) The engines were powered by the second alien, fossil fuel, stored sun-energy Are Humans Alien? which should properly be left in the ground. (Helton skips over wind­ power, which would have complicated his model.) Increased ability to fish led to surpluses, and the extra fish were light reaching the Earth is limited, as is James S. Robbins traded for the third and most destruc­ the arable acreage. This limits the possi­ tive alien - money. In this way, the ble number of plants, which in turn lim­ narrator noted with obvious disapprov­ The words "life is a struggle" flash its the number of animals. And physical al, people could eat fish without ever on the television screen, superimposed constraints limit what the animals can seeing the reef. To the trader this is the over scenes of military conflict inter­ do. A hyena clan, for example, can only miracle of exchange. To Helton, it is a spersed with shots of farmers applying kill a certain amount of animals within perversion of nature. pesticides and rooting out weeds. No, its territory before facing undersupply Helton's attitude grows more bitter this isn't a monist propaganda film and starvation. It can't expand its terri­ as the show grinds on. "In the natural preaching the glories of the primordial tory because there are other clans hem­ world, growth stops when life reaches struggle for the health of the collective ming it in. Hyena evolution is bound by its limits. On Earth, something that body, survival of the fittest and devil the lighter, faster wild dogs, and the grows constantly is an alien." (How a take the hindmost. This is the title se­ heavier, slower lions. So they're stuck. creature that is the product of terrestri­ quence to Energy Wars, a BBC­ But that's okay, because "in the end, al evolution could possibly be consid­ produced "documentary" aired on The hyenas do best by staying hyenas." Zen ered alien is beyond me - but then, Discovery Channel's environmental se­ Darwinism. I'm an alien.) ries, Lifeforce. Its message: Homo sapiens Because of these limitations, evolu­ Of course, human life isn't wholly a is too good a competitor. We are too fit tion leads, not to more life, but to more bed of roses. As humans proliferate, so to survive. diverse life. The turf is limited and can't do diseases that prey on humans. In­ All life, we are told, exists within be expanded, only subdivided more sects that feed on crops also have a the "prison of the sun." The amount of finely. From this diversity came stabili- windfall. In Africa, locust plagues are Liberty 65 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992 worse than in Biblical times. (The nar­ creates diversity. Alien energy destroys tery which would be solved in the final rator mentions that the current African it. Animals live in a balance imposed by chapter." locust originated in North America, their limits. Humans who face no limits Both mysteries and religious rituals where it is controlled. Too bad we had destroy the balance and create flux. unfold in an ideal world in which the that alien pesticide. The lucky Africans They can't help themselves. They are distinction between good and evil ex­ get to enjoy their "niche.") driven by instinct to grow. "We call ists, and matters. In mysteries, you My favorite part of Energy Wars is growth good. We blindly follow the don't actually find out until the end the exposition of opportunity costs, same path an antelope or a hyena who is evil and who is good; in church centering on the question how much for follows." (at least in traditional liturgical church­ Is there a way out of the wretched es), all people are understood to be mis­ growth conundrum that has more than erable sinners. But both mystery novels doubled our lifespans, bestowed a and church liturgy address the worst in Coffee, sugar and chocolate plethora of material comforts, and pro- . human beings. They also usually con­ have killed more elephants than tected us from the lions and hyenas? clude with a sense of peacefulness, Yes, and it is "simple, obvious." Since even serenity. ivory hunters have. I guess this humanity has no limits, it must limit it­ The parallel helps explain the ap­ makes cappucino one of the self. It must choose to stop growing. peal of mysteries to modern intellectu­ most un-PC beverages one "The idea is unthinkable," the narrator als. In most of life,good and evil are intones. "But why? Are our natural in­ inextricably mixed and almost impossi­ could possibly consume, a fact stincts just too strong?" ble to disentangle. Religion offers a re­ that could play absolute hell Not quite - actually, we're just too lief from this confusing mixture, and with the left-wing coffee-house smart. Maybe Helton could make a few helps people direct their behavior along contributions to the gene pool and take crowd. acceptable lines. But most intellectuals us a few steps in the other direction. I have rejected religion, and thus they just wonder if he knows his limits. 0 lack the guidance that comes from a shared sense of what is right and a cup of coffee? Coffee beans need good wrong. While the mystery novel offers soil and sunlight, prime habitat for oth­ no true guidance, it does provide the er creatures. This land has been "hi­ unchurched with a satisfying escape. jacked" and given over to "luxury" cash Booknotes Given this role, the mystery novel crops. In Kenya, forests that used to be isn't as rich as a "true" novel (nor is elephant habitat are now coffee planta­ Sunday morning all of life). Mysteries tions; because of this, says Helton, cof­ Mysterious Devices, Religious are themselves very much like rituals: fee has killed more elephants than ivory Desires - Some months ago, Nation­ Their plots and characters are varia­ hunters have. The same goes for sugar al Review managing editor Linda Bridg­ tions on familiar, predictable, and satis­ and chocolate, among other non­ es talked about the religious dimension fying patterns. While great novels can necessities. I guess this means that cap­ of mystery novels. Bridges wrote that haunt you for years, the specifics of pucino is one of the most un-PC bever­ mysteries deal with "considerations of mysteries are often forgettable. (Have ages one could possibly consume, a fact good and evil, human weakness and you ever read deeply into a mystery that could play absolute hell with the temptation, the fallenness of man," and novel, unable to remember whether left-wing coffee-house crowd. concluded that "[t]he murderer's soul, you've read it before?) So alien humanity uses alien fuel to no less than the victim's life and the High-minded literary authorities make alien money. If we stopped turn­ community's peace, are the concern of are forever trying to condemn myster­ ing fuel into money, the narrator points the mystery novelist." ies for this reason. The highest praise out, that would mean a recession, and if Mystery writer P.O. James made they can bestow is that a mystery writ­ the recession continued, Nature would this religious connection explicit in her er has "transcended classification as a "push us back where we belong." 1989 book Devices and Desires. (The title writer of books of mystery and detec­ But what if, instead of using stored is a phrase from the Anglican prayer tion," as one New York Times critic sunshine, humans manufactured sun­ book.) One of her characters is an aging, wrote of P.D. James. Fortunately, mys­ shine itself, through fusion power? self-centered clergyman who has lost tery writers of James' caliber reject this There was a time when environmental­ his faith, if indeed he ever had any. He sort of seductive nonsense; they know ists saw fusion as the perfect solution to finds consolation for life's disappoint­ that if they stray too far from the ex­ energy woes. Fusion energy would be ments by reading mysteries. Faced with pected ritual, they will lose their read­ clean, cheap, and essentially unlimited. a request for spiritual insight, he offers ers. (Another gifted writer, Ruth But now the more radical environmen­ distractedly a few cliches, and then Rendell, writes both mainstream novels talists see fusion as a threat, precisely turns back eagerly to his mystery novel. and mysteries.) because it is clean, cheap, and unlimit­ There, explains James, "problems could Recognizing the limits of mysteries, ed, thereby allowing more aliens to sur­ be solved, evil overcome, justice vindi­ like the limits of religious rituals, vive and prosper. The prison of the sun cated, and death itself [was] only a mys- doesn't have to blind us to their value. 66 Liberty Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

For some, this value is escape; for oth­ solve to record it as the core of one last paradise. ers, perhaps, it is a somewhat soothing great album ... At one time in American history, way to contemplate good and evil. Such is the premise of a cannyand hi­ 18th-century English political thought - Jane S. Shaw larious three-issue comic book series, El­ was seen, in Pocock's words, as Locke vis Shrugged (Revolutionary Comics, and "pretty nearly nothing else." Then Zen and the Art of Anarchy 3841 Fourth Avenue #229, San Diego, civic humanism was re-discovered. -- Someone ought to put in a good CA 92103; $2.50). Writer Patrick McCray Then analytic philosophy was applied. word for Kerry Thornley's new book, inventively mixes a parody of Rand's Along came Quentin Skinner, John Zenarchy (Illumi-Net Press, 1991, opus with an exposition of his personal Dunn, Peter Laslett, J.G.A. Pocock. $9.98). Part memoir, part tract, part col­ musical manifesto, while artist Dave Lift-off. lection of parables, Zenarchy is both Garcia does a nice job with all the carica­ The Marxist thesis of Locke as a very silly and very wise, which is good; tures. The first issue came out some spokesman of the thinking bourgeoisie if it were all silly, or all wise, I don't months ago and is well worth asking for died an unnatural death. think there'd be much point in reading at your local comic book store. Elvis Locke turned out to be nobody's it. Unlike Thornley, I do not hate cars, Shrugged is a hoot! choirboy. oppose absentee ownership per se, or - Steve Schumacher In 1969 the prevailing (smug) opin­ believe that there are walking zombies ion was "John Locke: Liberal, Yes; Cal­ among us, controlled by implants in It Usually Begins with John vinist, No." Now, according to Eldon their pacemakers. Yet it is in expressing Locke - Locke scholarship has come Eisenach, writing in John Locke's Two such odd notions that the book eXhibits through several paradigms now that we Treatises of Government: New Inter­ its most charm. are in a post-Kuhnian hermeneutical pretations (Edward J. Harpham, ed., Zenarchy is a call for personal revo­ lution, for an internal attitude-change that will either pave the way for a freer society or else make this one a hell of a lot nicer. It is also an autobiography of Classified Advertisements sorts, detailing its author's movements through libertarian and countercultural Classified Advertising is available for 25~ per word, plus $1.00 per insertion. 10% discount circles in the sixties and early seventies. for six or more insertions. Payment must accompany order. Please specify classification. Most of all, it is a lot of fun. There are walking zombies among us, pacemak­ DirectoryofLibertarian Periodicals. Updat­ er-eontrolled or not. Thornley is not Business Opportunities ed latest edition, lists around 150 titles, with ad­ one of them. All hail Discordia. Free!! Work-at-home information package!!! 1­ dresses, other information. All believed to be 800-274-4274, ext. A1323. presently publishing. $3.00 postpaid, $4.00 over­ - Jesse Walker seas. Jim Stumm, Box 29-LB, Hiler Branch, Buffa­ Literature lo, NY 14223. The year is John Galt Sings -- Multigovernment Governed by choice not Living Free newsletter discusses practical 1997. Madonna is Dagny Taggart. Mi­ chance. Explore "New Dimension of Freedom" methods for increasing personal freedom. Forum chael Jackson is Eddie Willers. Frank with sampling of literature. $6 to LeGrand Day, for freedom-seekers, libertarians, survivalists, Zappa is Francisco D'Anconia. A bioni­ Box 177, Reseda, CA 91337-0177. anarchists, outlaws, since 1979. Lively, unique. cally pumped-Up and rejuvenated Free-Market Environmentalism offers ways $9.00 for 6 issues, sample $1.00. Box 29-LB, Hiler to protect the environment without adding to the Branch, Buffalo, NY 14223. Frank Sinatra is Hank Rearden. And power of the state. To learn more about it, write one question is on everybody'S lips: "Is Jane Shaw, Political Economy Research Center, Freedom only BEGINS with free markets. De­ Elvis Alive?" 502 S. 19th Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59715. stroy the shackles of orthodoxy with Extropy: As Zappa declaims, "Music should Life Extension, Smart Drugs, Intelligent Technol­ Periodicals ogy, Self-Transformation, Space Habitation, uplift people and celebrate their life Physical and Virtual Private Communities, Digi­ Subscribe to Family Alert and learn how the and minds." But in 1997, Time-Warner­ tal Economies, Nanotechnology, Memetics, and unconstitutional acts of child protection agencies Cognitive Enhancement. Join the high-level dis­ Sony controls 100% of the world's mu­ nationwide have become a threat to the security cussion in Extropy: A Journal of Transhu­ sic production, aided by shallow, P.C. of children and families. Family Alert is a month­ manist Thought. #8 - $4 to Extropy, PO Box villains like Sinead O'Connor, Sting, ly newsletter compiled by people who have 77243, Los Angeles, CA 90007-0243. Spike Lee, and the maestro of muzak, learned the cost of state intrusion in family af­ fairs. For a sample issue write to: Chatauqua Cross Verbal Swords in The (Libertarian) Andrew Lloyd Webber. County VOCAL, PO Box 85, Cassadaga, NY Connection, open-forum magazine since 1968. Even more disconcerting is the dis­ 14718. Subscribers may insertone pagelissue free, uned­ appearance of all the good artists: Philip ited. Lots of stimulating conversation. Eight is­ out of step A journal of individualist polemics Glass, Jeff Lynne, Stephen Sondheim, sues (one year) $20. Strauss, Box 33432, Fairfax, and exchanges produced in memory of Frank VA 22038. David Byrne, Laurie Anderson, and Chodorov and other freethinking journalists. Thomas Paine Review: newsletter on books other eclectic unsung heroes. Alone $10/4 issues. $1/sample copy. 146-A N. Canyon Blvd, Monrovia, CA 91016. for the lover of freedom, reason, and human against the conglomerate, Madonna achievement. 6 issues $15; sample issue $3. Ad­ and Sinatra find a fragment of mystery The Voluntaryist. Sample copy for two first­ dress: 84 Washington St. #138, Penacook, NH music in the ruins of Graceland and re- class stamps. Box 1275, Gramling, SC 29348. 03303. Liberty 67 Volume 5, Number 6 July 1992

University Press of Kansas, 1992, 239 excellent tomb-robbing in Locke's main be called compensatory history. pp., $29.95), the verdict might read: temple, The Two Treatises. If you can't Schlesinger deplores the ethnic split­ "John Locke: Moderate-Anglican­ visit the temple. ..- Noel Criscuola ting of America into cultural ghettos. Calvinist, Yes; Liberal-Bourgeois, Not He is not at all against ethnic neighbor­ Yet; Radical-Revolutionary, A Quali­ Never Say Never Again - Be­ hoods, mind you. He is against the in­ fied Yes; Enlightenment-Rationalist, A cause I was brought up as a main­ tellectual fashion that ignores such Qualified No." stream conservative, the idea of neighborhoods if they are in any way The case is not closed. This is an ex­ approving of anything ever said or melted into the general society rather plosive mixture: moderate Anglican written by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. than insisting on remaining outside it. and radical revolutionary? For liberty never seemed likely. (He suggests that not even the KKK but also community? For property as Never say never. could devise a fad more calculated to the material basis of the moral person­ I have just finished reading his lat­ keep the poor impoverished and ality, but not for its unlimited accumu­ est book, The Disuniting of America: powerless.) lation? Possessive individualist but also Reflections on a Multicultural Society Schlesinger's ringing endorsement conservative Christian? These are some (W.W. Norton, 1992, $14.95). It is not as of something entirely different sounds of the issues discussed in this collection anecdotally detailed as D'Souza's Illib­ downright libertarian compared to the of essays. Even the prologue to the be­ eral Education, but in 138 rather small politically correct snobs of modern mul­ ginning of the end is not in sight. pages it is a powerful defense of Euro­ ticulturalism: "The genius of America The essays by Richard Ashcraft, Ro­ pean culture and a devastating expo­ lies in its capacity to forge a single na­ nald Hamowy, Karen Vaughn, and Ste­ sure of the use of history as therapy, or, tion from peoples of remarkably di­ phen Newman demonstrate one thing as Schlesinger puts it: verse racial, religious, and ethnic above all else: Locke is still a seminal ... history [that] is invoked to justify origins.... The American Creed envis­ figure. Who now reads Bishop Filmer, the victims of power, to vindicate ages a nation of individuals making the Judicious Hooker, or even Thomas those who reject the status quo.... their own choices and accountable to Hobbes? Locke's two gods, Athens and This is underdog history, designed to themselves, not a nation based on invio­ Jerusalem, have served him well - or demonstrate what Bertrand Russell lable ethnic communities. The Constitu­ perhaps he served them well. This is a called Uthe superior value of the op­ tion turns on individual rights, not splendid little expedition in the archae­ pressed" by inventing or exaggerat­ group rights." ology of knowledge, producing some ing past glories and purposes. It may -Karl Hess

Reflections, continuedfrom page 12 closed down and sent National Director told me, NatCom felt that it didn't have ation. Nick Dunbar to Las Vegas to pick up much choice in the matter. Removing Marroll explained that the card in the pieces and bring them back to the him now would be bad for the Party, question, although the name of an or­ National headquarters in Washington. and certainly cause a major disruption ganization appeared on it, was a per­ The NatCom interrogated Marrou of the campaign. Besides, Emerling sonal one that did not constitute an obligation of 51-92, and therefore re­ about the charges for seven hours. Mar­ hadn't really proven many of the charg­ quired no authorization by anyone rou defended himself as best he could. es, and Marrou's explanations were in some cases satisfactory. UOne thing was other than himself. He denied some charges, explained the My own guess is that most members for sure," the party power told me, "we mitigating circumstances of others, told and donors will accept this explanation, will never again nominate a candidate the committee that some of the charges though the result might be different if without doing a credit check first." were none of their business, blamed the News had reported that Emerling LP Chair Mary Gingell prepared a some of his problems on his campaign had provided documents from the Citi­ statement, reporting the charges staff that failed to forward bills to him, bank Business Group that contradict against Marrou, Marrou's responses to and said that he accepted personal re­ Marrou's explanation. sponsibility for his bad debts. The Com­ most of the charges, and the National This whole mess, in combination Committee's action. This carefully mittee did not question him about with the emergence of H. Ross Perot to crafted attempt to minimize damage some of the charges. compete for the votes of the dissatisfied, was printed in full in LP News. The National Committee was, no will likely drive the LP vote total below Here is a sample of the account in doubt, in a very tough spot. Plainly, even the 250,000 level that I predicted the News: Marrou had some serious skeletons in last summer. Emerling claims that Marrou ob­ This is too bad. The Libertarian Party his closet, but dumping him at this tained a "corporate" Mastercard for point would cause considerable prob­ is very healthy as an institution. Its Project 51-92 [a political action com­ growth has been considerable. Paid lems. In the end, the National Commit­ mittee working on obtaining ballot membership is currently about 9,400, up tee voted unanimously to reaffirm its status for the 1992 election] without 49% from the end of 1988 and the LP's support of Marrou. the knowledge or approval of the ap­ As one prominent NatCom member propriate officers of that organiz- continued on page 69 68 Liberty [::::::::=:======N===o===f===e===s===o===n=====C===o===n===f===rt===·b===U===f===O===r5======::::::]

Chester Alan Arthur is Liberty's pseudonymous political Writing About John Cage, John Cage: Writer, On Innovative correspondent. Perjormance(s), and A Dictionary ofthe Avant-Garde. Ace Backwords is the mind behind Twisted Image, an "alter­ Loren E. Lomasky, author of Persons, Rights, and the Moral native" comic strip of some repute. Community, is currently visiting Australia. Doug Bandow is a syndicated columnist and former editor Shay Marlowe is an artist living near Los Angeles. After ofInquiry. His books include Beyond Good Intentions and the riots she began considering a move. The Politics ofPlunder. Paul Pope is an artist living in Columbus, Ohio. NBaloo" is a cartoonist named Rex F. May. His work regu­ larly appears in The Wall Street Journal as well as in these Stuart Reges is a former Christian Scientist and a former pages. lecturer at Stanford University. R. W. Bradford is editor and publisher of Liberty. Sheldon L. Richman is Senior Editor with the Cato Institute. David Brin, author of Earth andother novels, has won James S. Robbins is a writer and foreign policy analyst liv­ three Hugo awards. ing in Massachusetts. Stephen Cox is Associate Professor of Literature at the Uni­ Steve Schumacher is alive and shrugging in the Pacific versity of California, San Diego. Northwest. Noel Criscuola reads the works of John Locke (complete Jane S. Shaw is a senior associate of the Political Economy with provisos) in Port Townsend, Washington. Resource Center in Bozeman, Montana. Brian Doherty is a journalist governing himself in the Dis­ trict of Columbia. George H. Smith is the author of Atheism: The Case Against God and Atheism, Ayn Rand, and Other Heresies. Gracie & Zarkov are Kunst Kultur und Phantastica editors for Mondo 2000. James Taggart is an attorney and freelance writer living on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Karl Hess is the author of Community Technology, "The Death of Politics," and other books and articles, and is Timothy Virkkala is assistant editor of Liberty. currently running for governor of West Virginia. Jesse Walker is editorial assistant and House Discordian at David Horowitz is a former co-editor of Ramparts and a cur­ Liberty. rent co-editor of Heterodoxy. Terree P. Wasley is an economic consultant living in Mary­ John Hospers is the author of Understanding the Arts and nu­ land. Her article in this issue will appear in somewhat merous other books and articles. different form in the Heritage Foundation's Critical Is­ David Kelley, author of The Evidence ofthe Senses, is the di­ sues: How Privatization Can Save America's Infrastructure rector of the Institute for Objectivist Studies. Crisis. Richard Kostelanetz's books for '92-'93 include On Innova­ Leland B. Yeager is Ludwig von Mises Distinguished Pro­ tive ArtUst)s, Twenty-Five Years After, Merce Cunningham, fessor of Economics at Auburn University.

Reflections, continuedfrom previous page

last presidential campaign. The party's ing ballot status in 46 states is evidence Furthermore, it has attracted new tal­ mailing list has grown from 25,000 to of the LP's growing institutional ent to its banner. In the past year, two in­ 52,000 in the last 8 months. The party strength. Sure, it falls sort of the LP's cumbent members of the New cracked the national media in February achievement of ballot status in all 50 Hampshire legislature have quit the Re­ by winning the presidential primary in states in 1980, when the campaign had publican Party and joined the LP. In Dixville Notch, the tiny village in north­ millions of dollars from libertarian oil Ohio, a well-known Republican politi­ ern New Hampshire that concludes its baron David Koch. And it would only cian left his party to chair Marrou's cam­ presidential primary 16 hours before the equal the 1988 record of 46 states, when paign in the Buckeye state. remainder of the state. Ron Paul raised substantial money from In the face of all this good news, the It now appears that Marrou's name his mailing list of conservative admir­ leadership of the LP is preoccupied with will appear on the ballot in about 46 ers. But it exceeds by a substantial num­ states, falling short of Marrou's promise ber the total of 38 states on whose minimizing the damage caused by Mar­ to appear on the ballots of all 50 states. ballots the LP candidate appeared in rou's behavior. In an election year where Or so I am told by a former Marrou 1984, the last time the LP ran a presiden­ the LP should be aspiring to its highest campaign worker, who is lobbying me tial campaign without substantial out­ vote totals ever, LP leaders are hoping to make a stink about Marrou's failure side funding. Gaining ballot status in the party will survive the election. to keep his promise. even 46 states without the infusion of I wish it the best of luck. It'll need it. But far from being a failure, obtain- outside cash is a major achievement. -CAA Liberty 69 Beijing Halifax, Nova Scotia The ongoing subversion of public morals in the Commu­ Advance in gender equality in America's northern neigh­ nist empire, as reported by Reuters: bor, as described in the Vancouver Sun: China Air is having trouble finding virgins to train as flight A provincial human-rights tribunal upheld a feminist maga­ attendants. "It's a social problem," laments school director Hao zine's right to publish only articles written by women, not on Yuping. "University girls and even high school students are freedom-of-speech grounds, but because women are a disadvan­ chasing boys." taged group that the periodical is trying to promote equality for. Though the airline does not require an intimate medical test "Mfording the sexes equal treatment can result in inequality," of its applicants, its agents interview girls' teachers and head­ declared the tribunal in its decision. masters to see "if the girls spend too much time with boys." The regulation is necessary, Hao explains. "We can't have our girls Detroit fooling around with the passengers." Possible precedent-setting legal case, as reported in the Detroit News: Dayton, Ohio James Blakely, 38, claims that horoscopes have ruined his The cutting edge of academic research, reported in the San marriage and caused "an enormous amount of problems in his Francisco Chronicle: life." He has filed a $9-million, 19-page lawsuit against astrolo­ Dr Donald Morlan, department chair and professor of com­ gers Joyce Jillson and Sydney Omarr, charging them with consu­ munications at the University of Dayton in Ohio, presented a mer fraud. paper called "The Three Stooges' Contribution to World War II "This is deception, which is a very universal known use ofSa­ Propaganda: Moe Hailstone and Adolf Hynkel's Race to the tan," he wrote. "It led me to believe these things would happen Screen" in Louisville, Kentucky recently. Morlan claimed his re­ for my life positively instead ofnegatively." search proves that the Three Stooges took a stand against Naz­ ism nine months before Charlie Chaplin did. Arkansas The status of libertarian values in Bill Clinton's home Philadelphia state, as reported in the San Francisco Chronicle: Advances in real-world educational techniques, as report­ Nineteen-year-old Shawnn Pierce was charged with public ed by United Press International: display of obscenity for wearing a Van Halen T-shirt purchased A weekly newspaper editor who decided not to publish third­ at a concert the night before. grade teacher Mimi Shapiro's photograph received a letter on school stationery containing messages from 14 of the instructor's Springfield, Pennsylvania pupils. The War on Drinking's triumph in America's secondary "I'm going to rip all your hair off, put it in your mouth, and schools, as reported in the Detroit Free Press: take your clothes and put them on your head and beat you up," Seniors at Springfield High School who ordered $14 ceramic vowed one. ''You'll regret this. 111 have your head. It's not nice beer mugs as class mementoes will not be able to use them. After to be mean to a teacher," wrote another. the mugs were delivered to the school, officials drilled holes in the bottom in order to discourage the students from drinking France beer. Progressive child protection legislation overseas, as report­ ed in the European: Boston Michel and Pierrette Galien wanted to name their son Chance Advance in civil libertarian theory, from the erudite pages (the French word for "lucky"), but their local registrar declared of the Boston Globe: the choice unacceptable on the grounds that the boy would be Columnist Robert Kuttner defended a government-issued taunted because the word is feminine. universal ID card and a national data bank in a recent column. Under French law, parents are restricted to giving their chil­ The lack of these institutions "can encumber our freedoms," he dren names approved by the state. wrote, by making gun control, immigration restrictions, and Cen­ sus data collection more difficult to enforce. Louisiana The high standard of political ethics in the Old South, de­ Ann Arbor, Michigan scribed in the Chicago Tribune: Performance art in Tree City, as described in the Washing­ Governor Edwin Edwards, 64, recently denied reports that he ton Post: cruised Louisiana State University's sorority row in a large white G.G. Allin, 34, lead singer of a group called the Toilet Rock­ car. "I don't suggest to you that I've never dated a sorority girl," ers, faces trial for defecating on stage and flinging feces into the said Edwards, "but I've never gone to pick her up in a limou­ crowd. "We feel that·[Allin] is a serious performer, and that sine." there's serious artistic value to what he does," defense attorney Peter Goldberg stated.

(Readers are invited to forward newsclippings or other items for publication in Terra Incognita.) 70 Liberty Stimulate Your Mind! There is a world of good reading in Liberty! Whether you want to catch up on what you missed, provide intellectual relief to your friends (or enemies!), or complete your collection, now is a good time to buy. Enjoy! Back Issues of Liberty

September 1988 November 1989 • IIScrooge McDuck and His Creator," by Phil Salin • liThe Lost War on Drugs," by Joseph Miranda • IILiberty and Ecology," by John Hospers • IIGoodbye, Galactic Empire," by J. R. Dunn • liThe Ultimate Justification of the Private Property Ethic," by Hans­ • IILife With (and Without) Ayn Rand," by Tibor R Machan Hermann Hoppe • "Capitalism Comes to Poland?" by Krzysztof Ostaszewski Plus reviews and articles by Douglas Casey, David Friedman, Karl • IIFear and Loathing in New York City," by Murray N. Rothbard Hess, Douglas Rasmussen, Murray Rothbard, L. Neil Smith and • liThe New Racial Orthodoxy," by William P. Moulton others; and a short story by Erika Holzer. (80 pages) Plus articles and reviews by Loren Lomasky, Michael Christian, Rich­ ard Kostelanetz, RW. Bradford and others; and an interview with November 1988 Russell Means. (72 pages) • IITaking Over the Roads," by John Semmens • liThe Search for We The LiVing," by R.W. Bradford January 1990 • IIPrivate Property: Hope for the Environment," by Jane S. Shaw • liThe Greenhouse Effect: Myth or Danger?" by Patrick J. Michaels Plus articles and reviews by Walter Block, Stephen Cox, John • liThe Case for Paleolibertarianism," by Llewelyn Rockwell Dentinger, James Robbins and others. (80 pages) • IIHow Roosevelt Soaked the Poor," by Richard Kostelanetz • "In Defense of Jim Baker and Zsa Zsa," by Ethan O. Waters January 1989 • liThe Death of Socialism: What It Means," by R.W. Bradford, Mur­ • IIAIDS and the FDA," by Sandy Shaw ray Rothbard, Stephen Cox, and William P. Moulton • "Property, Population and the Environment" by John Hospers Plus writing by Andrew Roller, David Gordon and others; and an in­ • IIRonald Reagan's 'Revolution'," by William Niskanen terview with Barbara Branden. (80 pages) Plus articles and reviews by Karen Shabetai, Jane Shaw, Jeffrey Tuck­ March 1990 er, Leland Yeager, William Wingo and others; and a short story by • liThe Case Against Isolationism," by Stephen Cox Jeffrey Olson. (72 pages) • IIH.L. Mencken: Anti-Semite?" by RW. Bradford March 1989 • IIHong Kong Today," by R.K. Lamb • IIRonald Reagan: An Autopsy," by Murray N. Rothbard • "Libertarian Intellectuals on Welfare," by George H. Smith Plus articles and reviews by Sheldon Richman, Richard Kostelanetz, • 'What ifEverything We Know About Safety Is Wrong?" by John Semmens and Dianne Kresich John Hospers, Loren Lomasky, James Robbins, Leland Yeager, Timothy Virkkala and others. (80 pages) • "What Do You Do When Your Mother Asks You to Kill Her?" by Michael Endres May 1990 Plus articles and reviews by Stephen Cox, Jeffrey Friedman, David • IIConservativism in Its Latter Days," by William P. Moulton Ramsay Steele, Sheldon Richman and others. (12 pages) • "A Population Crisis?" by Jane S. Shaw • "The Death of Thinking in the Schools," by Karl Hess May 1989 • IIBork's Law," by Leland Yeager • IIMan, Nature, and State: Free Market Slogans are Not Enough," by • IIA Tribute to Edward Abbey," by Bill Kauffman Karl Hess, Jr • llKilling as Therapy," by Thomas Szasz • liThe Media's Election-Night 'Coverage' Policy," by Margaret M. Plus articles and reviews by Richard Kostelanetz, Robert Higgs, Bart Fries Kosko, Loren Lomasky and others. (12 pages) • liThe End of the Secular Century," by Murray N. Rothbard Plus articles and reviews by Stephen Cox, David Gordon, Justin Rai­ July 1990 mondo, and other. (72 pages) • "Conversations with Ayn Rand (part 1)," by John Hospers • "The Orwellian University," by Charles Thorne July 1989 • ''Why Public Enemy is Number One," by Brian Doherty • IIViking Iceland: Anarchy That Worked," by David Friedman • "Strange Subcultures of the Right," by John Baden • liThe Myth of the Rights of Mental Patients," by Thomas S. Szasz • "If You Believe in Dentistry, Why Should You Mind Having Your • IIFetal Rights: The Implications," byTibor Machan Teeth Knocked Out?" by William P. Moulton Plus articles and reviews by R.W. Bradford, John Hospers, Jane S. Plus articles and reviews by John Baden, David Friedman, Bill Kauff­ Shaw, Jeffrey Tucker, Leland Yeager and others. (80 pages) man, James Robbins, Mark Skousen and others. (72 pages) September 1989 September 1990 • IIHolocausts and the Historians," by Ralph Raico • "Conversations with Ayn Rand (part 2)," by John Hospers • liMy Expulsion from the Rand Cult," by Murray Rothbard • "Is Environmental Press Coverage Biased?" by Jane S. Shaw • "Abortion Without Absurdity," by R.W. Bradford • "The Pro-Life Case for the Abortion Pill," by Dr Ron Paul • IISaving Yellowstone From Its Friends," by Larry Dodge • "Fighting the Draft in World War II," by Jim Bristol • "Libertarians and the Avant-Garde," by Richard Kostelanetz Plus articles and reviews by Michael Krauss, James Robbins, Richard Plus articles and reviews by David Friedman, Loren Lomasky, Gary Kostelanetz and others; and a ficci6n by Harvey Segal. (12 pages) North, Jeffrey Tucker and others; and a poem by Brett Rutherford. (72 pages) continued on back cover . .. Stimulate Your Mind! Liberty's Back Issues continued from previous page November 1990 • "Rescind Gorby's Peace Prize," by James Robbins • "Smokes, But No Peacepipe," by Scott Reid • "Journalists and the Drug War," by David Boaz • "You, Too, Can Be a Junior G-Man," by David Hudson • "California's Man-Made Drought," by Richard Stroup • "Sex, Drugs, and the Goldberg Variations," by Richard Kostelanetz • "The Gulf War 'Victory': What Does it Mean?" by R.W. Bradford, • "Why is Anyone Virtuous?" by David Friedman Robert Higgs, James Robbins, Sheldon Richman, Stephen Cox, Matt Plus articles and reviews by Robert Higgs, Leslie Fleming, Alexander Kibbe, and Loren Lomasky Tabarrok, Sheldon Richman and others; and an interview with Ed Plus writing by John Baden, Scott Reid, Leland Yeager and others; and Crane. (80 pages) a short story by Lawrence Thompson. (72 pages) January 1991 July 1991 • "Meltdown: The End of the Soviet Empire," by David Boaz, James • "Say 'No' to Intolerance," by Milton Friedman Robbins, Ralph Raico and Jane S. Shaw • "I Am a Casualty of the War on Drugs," by Stuart Reges • "Skatepunks, UFOs, and Guerilla Capitalisrn," by Lawrence Person • "Depolluting the USSR," by James Robbins • "Gordon Gekko, Michael Milken, and Me," by Douglas Casey Plus articles and reviews by David Friedman, Loren Lomasky, Shel­ • "The HoPe in the Schools," by Karl Hess don Richman, Karl Hess, Richard Kostelanetz, William P. Moulton Also: articles and reviews by Michael Christian, Ralph Raico, Loren and others; and Mark Skousen's interview with Robert Heilbroner. Lomasky and others; plus special election coverage. (80 pages) (72 pages) March 1991 September 1991 • "The Myth of War Prosperity," by Robert Higgs • "AIDS and Marijuana," by Robert O'Boyle • "The Life of Rose Wilder Lane," by William Holtz • "Stalking the Giant Testes of Ethiopia," by Robert Miller • "The Unintended Consequences of Jesse Helms," by Richard Kostel- • "The Unraveling of Canada," by Scott Reid anetz • "GNP: A Bogus Notion," by R.W. Bradford • "Old Whine in New Bottles," by Jan Narveson Plus articles and reviews by Bart Kosko, Mark Skousen, Frank Fox, • "The Strange Death of the McDLT," by R.W. Bradford John Hospers, James Taggart, Karl Hess, William P. Moulton and Plus articles and reviews by Jane Shaw, Richard Weaver, Linda others. (72 pages) Locke, Krzysztof Ostaszewski and others. (72 pages) November 1991 May 1991 • "The Road to Nowhere," by David Horowitz • "Christiana: Something Anarchical in Denmark," by Ben Best • "Women vs. the Nation-State," by Carol Moore • "Thelma and Louise: Feminist Heroes," by Miles Fowler r- , • "Libertarians Meet in Chicago," by Chester Alan Arthur ------• "The Boycott of American Psycho," by Panos Alexakos and Daniel - Conway I Please send me the back issues of Liberty I have marked. I • "Correcting the 'Politically Correct,''' by Karen Shabetai (foreign orders, add 50¢ per issue) Plus writing by Robert Higgs, Leland Yeager and others; and a short I Sept. '88, $7.00 __ Sept. '90, $5.50 __ I story by J. E. Goodman. (80 pages) I Nov. '88, $4.00 __ Nov. '90, $5.50 __ I January 1992 Jan. '89, $4.50 __ Jan. '91, $5.50 __ • "The National Park Disgrace," by RW. Bradford I Mar. '89, $5.50 __ Mar. 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