Clip from The Moon is a Harsh Mistress: Alternative/Better/Creative forms of Representation

I think Prof was shocked. But he couldn't undo it, had all been
proper under rules he himself had written. But he rolled with punch, went
to Novylen (where Congress now met--more central) and spoke to them with
usual good nature and simply cast doubts on what they were doing rather
than telling them flatly they were wrong.

After gracefully thanking them he started picking early drafts to
pieces: "Comrade Members, like fire and fusion, government is a dangerous
servant and a terrible master. You now have freedom--if you can keep it.
But do remember that you can lose this freedom more quickly to yourselves
than to any other tyrant. Move slowly, be hesitant, puzzle out the



consequences of every word. I would not be unhappy if this convention sat
for ten years before reporting--but I would be frightened if you took
less than a year.

"Distrust the obvious, suspect the traditional. . . for in the past
mankind has not done well when saddling itself with governments. For
example, I note in one draft report a proposal for setting up a
commission to divide Luna into congressional districts and to reapportion
them from time to time according to population.

"This is the traditional way; therefore it should be suspect,
considered guilty until proved innocent. Perhaps you feel that this is
the only way. May I suggest others? Surely where a man lives is the least
important thing about him. Constituencies might be formed by dividing
people by occupation... or by age... or even alphabetically. Or they

might not be divided, every member elected at large and do not object

that this would make it impossible for any man not widely known
throughout Luna to be elected; that might be the best possible thing for
Luna .

"You might even consider installing the candidates who receive the
least number of votes; unpopular men may be just the sort to save you
from a new tyranny. Don't reject the idea merely because it seems
preposterous--think about it! In past history popularly elected
governments have been no better and sometimes far worse than overt
tyrannies .

"But if representative government turns out to be your intention
there still may be ways to achieve it better than the territorial
district. For example you each represent about ten thousand human beings,
perhaps seven thousand of voting age--and some of you were elected by
slim majorities. Suppose instead of election a man were qualified for
office by petition signed by four thousand citizens. He would then
represent those four thousand affirmatively, with no disgruntled
minority, for what would have been a minority in a territorial
constituency would all be free to start other petitions or join in them.
All would then be represented by men of their choice. Or a man with eight
thousand supporters might have two votes in this body. Difficulties,
objections, practical points to be worked out--many of them! But you
could work them out... and thereby avoid the chronic sickness of
representative government, the disgruntled minority which feels--
correctly ! -- that it has been disenfranchised.

"But, whatever you do, do not let the past be a strait j acket !

"I note one proposal to make this Congress a two-house body.
Excellent--the more impediments to legislation the better. But, instead
of following tradition, I suggest one house legislators, another whose
single duty is to repeal laws. Let legislators pass laws only with a two-
thirds majority... while the repealers are able to cancel any law through
a mere one-third minority. Preposterous? Think about it. If a bill is so
poor that it cannot command two-thirds of your consents, is it not likely
that it would make a poor law? And if a law is disliked by as many as
one-third is it not likely that you would be better off without it?

"But in writing your constitution let me invite attention the
wonderful virtues of the negative! Accentuate the negative! Let your
document be studded with things the government is forever forbidden to
do. No conscript armies... no interference however slight with freedom of
press, or speech, or travel, or assembly, or of religion, or of
instruction, or communication, or occupation... no involuntary taxation.



Comrades, if you were to spend five years in a study of history while
thinking of more and more things that your governinen should promise
never to do and then let your constitution be nothing but those
negatives, I would not fear the outcome.

"What I fear most are affirmative actions of sober and well-
intentioned men, granting to government powers to do something that
appears to need doing. Please remember always that the Lunar Authority
was created for the noblest of purposes by just such sober and well-
intentioned men, all popularly elected. And with that thought I leave you
to your labors. Thank you."

"Gospodin President! Question of information! You said 'no
involuntary taxation ' --Then how do you expect us to pay for things?
Tanstaaf 1 ! "

"Goodness me, sir, that's your problem. I can think several ways.
Voluntary contributions just as churches support themselves...
government-sponsored lotteries to which no one need subscribe... or
perhaps you Congressmen should dig down into your own pouches and pay for
whatever is needed; that would be one way to keep government down in size
to its indispensable functions whatever they may be. If indeed there are
any. I would be satisfied to have the Golden Rule be the only law; I see
no need for any other, nor for any method of enforcing it. But if you
really believe that your neighbors must have laws for their own good, why
shouldn't you pay for it? Comrades, I beg you--do not resort to
compulsory taxation. There is so worse tyranny than to force a man to pay
for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for
him. "

Prof bowed and left, Stu and I followed him. Once in an otherwise
empty capsule I tackled him. "Prof, I liked much that you said... but
about taxation aren't you talking one thing and doing another? Who do you
think is going to pay for all this spending we're doing?"

He was silent long moments, then said, "Manuel, my only ambition is
to reach the day when I can stop pretending to be a chief executive."

"Is no answer ! "

"You have put your finger on the dilemma of all government--and the
reason I am an anarchist. The power to tax, once conceded, has no limits;
it contains until it destroys. I was not joking when I told them to dig
into their own pouches. It may not be possible to do away with
government--sometimes I think that government is an inescapable disease
of human beings. But it may be possible to keep it small and starved and
inoffensive — and can you think of a better way than by requiring the
governors themselves to pay the costs of their antisocial hobby?"

"Still doesn't say how to pay for what we are doing now."

"'How, ' Manuel? You know how we are doing it. We're stealing it.

I'm neither proud of it nor ashamed; it's the means we have. If they ever
catch on, they may eliminate us--and that I am prepared to face. At
least, in stealing, we have not created the villainous precedent of
taxation . "