[free-sklyarov] Libertarian anti-DMCA is fantasy

Ethan Straffin drumz at best.com
Thu Jul 26 07:53:43 PDT 2001


> Finkelstein apparently wants to argue at length about libertarianism,
> hypothetical votes, and and mythical senators in his endearingly nutty
> way. I do not, and I'll let him have the last word. Good day.
> 
> -Declan

I don't see the point in this argument either -- especially on such a
high-volume list -- and (as usual) have been endorsing [Ll]ibertarianism
primarily as a defensive measure, because this isn't the place to go on
the warpath.  Just a few last thoughts, and then let's please drop it.

Seth: why argue about what the LP would do if it were In Charge?  I'm not
exactly a fan of repealing the income tax, but I can vote happily with the
LP regardless, because it just *ain't gonna happen*.  I don't believe the
true strength of the LP lies in its ability to get its candidates elected
to high office.  (If it did, we'd be in a lot of trouble.)  I don't think
any such scenario is practical without an overhaul of our voting process;
without approval voting or an instant runoff, ours will always be a
two-party system over the long term, and there simply isn't enough
anti-authoritarian sentiment in our state-dependent society to let either
major party truly embrace freedom.

I *do* think that libertarians can provide invaluable swing votes --
particularly in an era during which it takes a near-deadlocked SCOTUS to
decide a deadlocked election -- and that we are therefore in a position to
have a significant effect on the national agenda.  I also think that most
[Ll]ibertarian hearts are very much in the right place with respect to the
DMCA, and the CSA, and all the other infamous acronyms which our Congress
has seen fit to inflict upon us over the years.

Reject us if you like, as some have rejected the EFF; like them, we won't
allow harsh words prevent us from being on your side.  It would be
suicidal for all of us, in an era in which we are outnumbered and
outgunned, to allow idle "what if" speculation to stand in the way of our
common goals.

Ethan
--
"What we actually need is not a nation of martyrs OR a nation of
revolutionaries.  What we need is a bunch of martyrs FOR the
revolutionaries to point at and fight for.  Example: Martin Luther King
-- martyr.  Malcolm X -- revolutionary.  The first wave always has to
be peaceful and get the shit kicked out of them.  Then the angry second
wave has something to be genuinely angry about, which gets the social
change made."     -- Rev. Nimrod P. Denglehorn, posting on slashdot.org




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