From: HANLY-AT-BrandonU.CA
Date: Sun, 28 Apr 1996 14:10:24 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Libertarian's definition of socialism
To: MARXISM:;


Many libertarian's talk of any government action beyond the minimum
of defence and courts as "socialist". The entire welfare state is
thus "socialist". Regulation of production of any kind is "socialist".
Libertarians  see present capitalist governments as riddled with
socialism. Thus you get the inane pronouncement of Carnell that
if you got rid of socialist policies no one would starve! Only people
with proper grounding in libertarian mythology could spout such utter
rubbish. Even people who should have known better such as Hayek
tended toward this totally absurd way of looking at things. Hayek
thinks that policies such as those recommended by Galbraith for example
are socialist. However, in general political discourse in the US and to some
extent in Canada any increasing use of government power is called socialist
and any extension of the welfare state, even though the welfare state is
clearly a product of capitalism, hence the libertarian way of speaking
may not seem as absurd as it is.
   CHeers, Ken Hanly



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