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Entry: Civil Rights and Wrongs Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/civil_rights_and_wrongs#14791 Post contents: Mr. Epstein: I am afraid that you got your defense of private property backwards. Segregation was "enforced by law", it was not a question of buyers and sellers determining who they wanted to deal with - with the more irrational ones who passed on potential customers being punished for they bizarre behavior - but the power of the state telling people who they should deal with. Everyone had to adhere to the same lunatic standard. Have you ever wondered why there are so few black libertarians or black conservatives? After all, the theory in itself is supposed to be universal and true for all. Perhaps it is because of bad memories of those who, when they asked for help answered "we will protect private property first",forgetting that private property is a means, human dignity the end. There are many black people who would love to embrace publicly conservative values, but get their back up whne they realize who they have to pal with, or hear comments that because they are who they are they are ipso facto lazy criminals. So they pack up and leave to those with if they do not agree with everything, have been allies when they needed them. If you want to write off blacks and latinos, and minority groups in general, you are free to do so, as libertarians in general are free to snipe at each other in public, thus provinding great amusement for non-libertarians, but it is damn stupid. And if you do not want to, remember what is the first question to that people ask when looking for an ally. It is not "Does this person agree with my views of this matter" but "Can I trust this person to back me in a tight spot?" So, try to act trustworthy to them. Sent at: 2008 11 21