Letter 1
From: jonnyl21
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2020 3:44 PM
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Contradiction in Compulsory Public Education
Walter, I am re-reading Murray’s For A New Liberty. I am on the chapter on Education.
It got me thinking that the State compulsorily educates citizens for a legal minimum of 10 years (more in some states). And then the State regulates nearly every facet of life. Which means that the State must consider State-educated citizens to be pretty ignorant. Funny, huh?
In fact, the State is even skeptical that a State-educated parent is qualified to home school his child.
Jonathan
On Wed, Aug 5, 2020 at 4:45 PM Walter Block <[email protected]> wrote:
Dear Jonathan:
Well said.
Best regards,
Walter
From: jonnyl21
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Contradiction in Compulsory Public Education
Walter,
I know that you and Hans hew to different approaches regarding immigration. Hans writes that the State has no business in setting immigration policy (or doing anything else), but that if the State has such a policy, then such a policy should be structured in order to best represent the interest of the taxpayers.
Imagine a State-based police officer observed a violent crime being committed. What does libertarian theory say about the legitimacy of the officer intervening? Is such an action condemned, because the State ought not to do anything? Is it compelled, because the officer is paid to protect taxpayers, a group which presumably includes the victim in question? Is it recommended, because anyone is justified in opposing initiatory violence, and the officer would do so in this case?
My question is not so much the ethical question of whether the individual officer should intervene. Rather, the question is whether it is legitimate to do so.
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan:
But “should” and “legit to do so” are synonyms, in my view.
As I see matters, when a govt cop stops a murder, rape, theft, we libertarians can applaud his action but criticize the financing of his salary. I wouldn’t condemn his action, just the source of his salary.
Best regards,
Walter
3:46 am on October 11, 2020
