Moved as I am by your predicament, I am sure that the libertarian principle involved is not freedom of speech (which has not been abrogated here, since you are at liberty to set up your own list) but the freedom of property and contract. You surely cannot be suggesting that Mr Henwood is not at liberty to dispose of his property as he feels fit? Such a view would seem closer to the Marxist critique of the capitalist's monopoly over the means of communication than any libertarian standard. Surely all true libertarians reject the so-called 'right to reply' legislation as an insufferable interference in the rights of private property.
I could of course appeal to Mr Henwood's better nature, on the grounds that, though apparently incapable of hearing other people's arguments, you are in any event harmless, and list subscribers would be at liberty to delete your messages unread. But I feel sure that you would be unhappy to be dependent on the patronage of Mr Henwood.
Yours sincerely,
James Heartfield
In message <F17muAGHeDcoAwmdcpY00004fb6 at hotmail.com>, jan carowan
<jancarowan at hotmail.com> writes
>Dear Mr Heartfield:
>Jan Carowan has been banned from lbo-talk evidently for criticizing American
>leftist gurus for casting a vote in favor of their reactionary
>back-to-nature, anti globalization savior and unthinkingly promoting the
>imperialism of the AFL CIO. He was not banned for abusing you in regards to
>your simplistic analysis of AIDS or your specious claims about the
>inviolable principles of science (you really should read Dudley Shapere--for
>example, "The Nature of Scientific Change"). Everyone seemed to have a good
>laugh at your expense, ridiculing your "arguments" against global warming
>and ignoring your police orders about the epistemological and ontological
>commitments a scientist must have. This provides you with an opportunity to
>redeem yourself, to prove that you are sincere in your libertarian
>commitments; you have an opportunity to campaign for the return of the same
>Mr Jan Carowan who has fiercly criticized, if not ridiculed, you. Such an
>opportunity to prove the depths of your commitment to principle is rare in
>the life of a leftist; I encourage you to seize the moment.
>With fond, friendly regards, Jan Carowan
>
>_________________________________________________________________
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-- James Heartfield