I am afraid that my rather crude attempt at levity on this matter was taken rather too seriously than I intended by Justin. At the same time, there was a point behind it. I object to the idea that property rights are "granted" by the state. Indeed, I would argue (and this is the point of the quote from justice Bazalon) that the causation is the reverse -- the state was created to protect the rights of private property. The courts have merely given the stamp of legal protection to property rights claimed by those who have already accumulated property. This was the point of the quote of Proudhon and was in keeping with the "quotes of the day" from St. Thomas More and (help me out Peter), St. 'A'. And, to finish it off, my slogan "expropriate wealth" was in keeping with the belief, so strongly advance by Trond, and supported by Judaic teaching, in the necessity of a 'jubilee'. But, perhaps I missed something....? Paul Phillips, University of Manitoba
