Samael wrote:
> -----Original Message-----
It is not theft if the original claimant is a government which is a
representative democracy. Then when the government sells it, the public is
gaining maximum utility from that object.
> From: Dick.Gray@bull.com <Dick.Gray@bull.com>
> To: extropians@maxwell.kumo.com <extropians@maxwell.kumo.com>
> Date: 11 December 1998 17:50
> Subject: Property [was Re: The Education Function]
>
> >
> >
> >On Thu, 10 Dec 1998 15:34:47 -0000, "Samael" <Samael@dial.pipex.com> wrote:
> >>2) Property is theft.
> >>Communist view - owning anything means you are stealing from everyone - as
> >>in a natural state nothing is owned by anyone.
> >
> >I assume this absurd contradiction is not your position. (Of course, it's
> >true that resources are not initially owned by anyone, so it's utter
> >nonsense to speak of "stealing" them "from everyone" or anyone. It's hard
> >to believe anyone ever bought into this Proudhonian bilge.)
>
> Example:
>
> An object starts off as unowned. Everyone could use it. Then somneone
> comes along and claims it. Now only they can use it. How is this not
> theft?
Mike Lorrey