Libertarians believe the personal is political, but shouldn't be, and that's why they want government out of our lives. But what happens to public schools and drug laws when the government goes away? In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, the growing appeal of libertarianism.

SEGMENT 1

Charles Murray talks with Steve Paulson about the history and philosophy of the Libertarian Party in the United States. Libertarians want to be able to live, raise families and run businesses without government interference. Murray is the co-author of "The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life" and the author of "What It Means to Be a Libertarian." Also, University of Chicago political scientist Jean Bethke Elshtain tells Judith Strasser that she thinks Libertarians are naive and that their philosophy lacks a social dimension. Elshtain is the author of "Democracy on Trial."

SEGMENT 2:

Writer Paulina Borsook is working on a book called "Cyber-selfish" about the intersection of Libertarianism and Silicon Valley. She tells Steve Paulson about the rabid anti-government views of many "techno- libertarians," pointing out that it was government sponsored research and development that created today's high-tech computer industry.

SEGMENT 3:

Frances Moore Lappe is co-founder (with Paul Martin Du Bois) of the Center for Living Democracy and the American News Service. She tells Jim Fleming that dis- satisfaction with government doesn't necessarily lead to Libertarianism. Lappe collects innovative grassroots solutions to community problems.

Distribution dates:

• week of 06/01/97 - hour 1