Libertarianism or altruism which is it?
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/commcomm/2010/nov/13/libertarianism-or-altruiism-which-it/
Nov. 13, 2010
[See URL for cartoon.]
Good afternoon, Netizens…
We will take a brief step off the pathway of yesterday's
police-assisted-suicide and pot grow operation here in Spokane and
take an introspective look back at a time of altruism that had its
beginnings in New Mexico and beyond. Today's David Horsey cartoon
shows a vision of Libertarianism, perhaps one that not everyone will
subscribe to, but one which seems to have a certain popularity in modern times.
Are you old enough to remember the Hippie philosophies of the late
60's and 70's? While I will concede many elements of that age in our
history were without much merit, particularly those which were based
largely upon psychedelic drug use. Back in that era, some subcultures
were based either in part or in total upon the use of LSD, peyote or
various other mind-altering drugs, but there were a small number of
altruistic communities which were based upon communal living, but
without drugs.
Whenever I think seriously of the alternatives to Horsey's view of
Libertarianism, I reflect back on a wonderful character I met at
Woodstock named Hugh Romney, AKA Wavy Gravy, who became known around
the world for his infamous line, "What we have in mind is breakfast
in bed for 400,000…". Well, lesser people perhaps might have ridden
that flash in the pan to other ends, but for The Hog Farm and Wavy
Gravy, it hasn't ended there.
He's nearing 70 years old now, and is still a walking public service
announcement for compassion and giving to those in need. He runs a
day care for needy kids, founded an organization to help the blind
and regularly contributes to a handful of other charitable
organizations around the world. If you want to read the entire litany
of his multitude of accomplishments, turn your browsers to
http://www.wavygravy.net/bio/biography.html and take a brief walk
back through his history.
Then go to your most-private corner and ask yourself are you a
Libertarian as defined by David Horsey's cartoon, are you a
Libertarian cut from another cloth or, if you had the means, would
you rather be an altruist cut from the same cloth as Wavy Gravy? I
can hardly wait to see some of the comments about this question,
since it is a tough question, really.
.
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