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is that they will say, no, that is a simply and straightforward lie, economic theory says that what people value, whether it be beauty and tranquility or jet skis, is what is valuable, and if more value the beauty and tranquility more, it is a failure of ownership that results in those damn jet skis.

I know a lot of people who would torpedo a jet ski if there were not laws against doing so.  but the law protects the "right" of the jet ski owner (the person who burns more fossil fuels) to privatise the entire ambience of the lake or estuary by occupying it with noise, just as the law protects the "right" of the automobile owner (the person who burns more fossil fuels) to privatise the "public" street by occupying more of it than a pedestrian or cyclist (and with lethal force).

in an atmosphere of lawlessness or community sanction, the lone jet skier might not long survive the wrath of the 200 people whose day he is ruining and whose environment he is polluting (and whose health, in some small increment, he is damaging).  but "law and order" protects privatisation and enclosure, not commensality and the commons.

The difference between theory and practise in practise ...

by DeAnander (de_at_daclarke_dot_org) on Wed Nov 7th, 2007 at 03:24:18 PM EST

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