[governance] RE: [NA-Discuss] ALAC and NCUC

[Dan Krimm]

At 10:14 AM +0300 4/21/07, McTim wrote:

>> There are distinct limits to "self-responsibility" in even the most
>> democratic governance processes.  There is an ineliminable collective
>> component to governance in any equitable society, where some people must
>> take responsibility for protecting the interests of others.
>
>In my Utopia, people take the responsibility to represent themselves
>on an issue they are interested in.  Why is a collective component
>needed, just becasue that's what we are used to having?


No, not out of mere habit, but because "self interest" ultimately does not
and cannot reach out to the full range of societal interests.  Private
markets are inherently incomplete with respect to addressing public goods
and externalities, and only collective structures of political
representation can address those interests.  Privatization has its distinct
and insurmountable limits.

In short, there are some societal interests that are irreducibly collective
in nature, and no amount of self help will address them at all.  Radical
individualism is a recipe for societal disaster.

I would characterize your "utopia" as a dystopia.

And at this point I would suggest that we agree to disagree, as it's late
out on the Pacific Coast and I have a full day offline tomorrow...  ;-)

Dan
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