On 01-04-98 David Martorana wrote to John Boone... 
 
        Hello David and thanks for writing, 
  
 DM>  JB>  However, a word most who deal in "grey" understand 
 DM>  JB> is "trade-offs."  Meaning, our views about government, 
 DM>  JB> etc involve "trade-offs."   This leads us to conclude 
 DM>  JB> government can't "solve" our problems without cost elsewhere. 
   
 DM>  John! there is ""cost elsewhere""  and even not so elsewhere, 
 
  Not sure what you mean by "cost elsewhere."  I assume the 
actions of others have effects on others as well as to themselves.  
  I would like to share with you Fredick Bastiat's "The Law." 
There he mentions some -assumptions- that socialist make: 
 
      Fredick Bastiat "The Law" 
 
     page 34 
 
        ...They assume that people are susceptible to being 
        shaped---by the will and hand of another--- into an 
        infinite variety of forms, more or less symmetrical, 
        artistic, and perfected. 
 
     page 39 
 
        .....that the misfortunes and the prosperity---vices 
        and virtues ---of people are caused by the external 
        influence exercised upon them by the law and the legislators... 
  
   It is Bastiat's point that such is contrary to freedom 
(the book is about 79 pages and is a quick read, can be done 
in one day). 
   Bastiat points out in another place, page 30: 
                            
        Perhaps the politician should ask himself..... 
        Perhaps he should consider this proposition: 
        Since all persons seek well being and perfection, 
        would not a condition of justice be sufficient to 
        cause the greatest possible equality that is 
        compatible with individual responsibility? 
  
 DM>  whether problems are approached by governments or by OTHER 
 DM>  or not approached at all. There is much that is just the 
 DM>  luck of time & circumstance as to whether some effort will 
 DM>  turn out good for most of us or bad for most of us. 
 DM>  Thousands of children die every night from starvation in 
 DM>  a world full of food. Governments do some little, churches 
 DM>  & charities do some little....  Who is this mysterious 
 DM>  """other""" standing up to solve such problems? 
   
  If one assumes given "there are trade-offs", -any- "myserious 
'"""other"""' standing up to "solve" such problems" will do 
so -only- at cost often -unknown- costs. 
  Further, the word "who" assumes -a- "who" might exist. 
One I am "not sure" (here is some grey words) exists. 
 
 DM>  Just an anecdotal sample .....I passed by the local 
 DM>  church (very conservative) and there was not a car on 
 DM>  the lot less than of the $20,000 plus variety.......! 
 DM>  lots of "trucky sporties"......a very powerful horde of 
 DM>  earthly pleasure (necessities)  ...It was very warm for 
 DM>  our Maryland January and the windows were open; to hear 
 DM>  the singing............ "while thousands of children will 
 DM>  die from starvation." Said to myself "bet there's some 
 DM>  real *good* LOGIC at work here................... 
    
  Are you trying to imply, such "conservative" church 
goers reaped their "trendy" cars at the cost of "children 
will die from starvation?" 
  Or, if they were followers of Christianity, they would 
"give" (I assume you mean money sufficient that they 
-NOT- be driving "trucky sporties") to the "poor?" 
  
 DM>     Sure nice to be a hedonist             Take Care! 
 DM>     pagan.....................  (-00-) ............ Dave 
 
  Ah, I am not trying to convince you NOT to be a hedonist. 
My political views -allows- (encourages you) to be a hedonist. 
As a Christian, I would be remiss by not sharing my faith, 
but this doesn't mean, you are evil, etc.  
 
Take care, 
John 
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 * OFFLINE 1.54 
--- Maximus 3.01
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