Libertarian Thread #2: We Shall Never Die!

I'm more into political theory than I am with politics. Yours is a question of the latter. I haven't thought much about the transition because the means don't particularly interest me, and I don't think it's likely to happen in my lifetime.

I favor, as in all things, a peaceful transition. One built upon persistent education of the masses and dispelling of myths prevalent in mainstream history and economics. The naive hope I have is that people will gradually begin to withdraw their consent of the system.

I would think the change should also be gradual rather than immediate. The market in many key areas, such as defense protection, has been completely eliminated or dramatically smothered by the government. Entrepreneurs will need time to grow and allow the market's discovery process to take effect. Also, many have become dependent upon a wide range of government programs. I have no interesting in turning a blind eye. A gradual process would allow them to adapt and private charity to gradually pick up the slack as government continuously withdraws.

As to any specifics though I'm clueless.

I see a problem in how things are going in the world though. Restrictions are increasing instead of decreasing. But the economy is getting freer with less government intrusion. That split there is bad, and may lead to a Corporatiocracy. Either freedoms are advanced in both the economic and personal field, or what we have is republican utopia: a free society, but only for those who can afford it. (I'm not saying the democrat side is that great either anyway; you could say is a society where everyone can afford freedom, but freedom is not that free really).

On the cop issue, Shields keeps talking about efficiency. Yes, we all want an efficient police force. But also an impartial police force. Efficiency is not the end-goal of every human activity. And I fear your theoretical system would have much of the former, and little of the latter.

Edited by The T - January 04 2011 at 10:54

Humans by nature are not impartial, true. A justice system (cops are its enforcers) should be. I don't think adding an extra component of interest like profit would really help matters. I think the system here is fairly decent, at least.

Statistics show that cops handle domestic and neighbor disputes even more than they do violent crimes. So let's say there is a case of a situation where cops are called by person X, who pays for the service monthly. Person Y doesn't. How impartial will this cop be when he arrives? Rob has thought of many scenarios I never though of, and he voiced already most of my concerns with this hypothetical private system. Unless you work the entire thing perfectly and make the option something actually viable, it still fails to convince me, and I can read that pretty much everybody but your padawan Mom.

It's good to plant the philosophical/hypothetical seed of doubt though, if only to entertain the option and maybe discard it for its terrible problems.

Hi all!

As chance would have it - I'm a raging libertarian/anarchist and a prog rock recording artist out raising awareness for my  new album release:

You can listen to the entire album - and get 3 free downloads here: http://bensommer.com/splash.

Also - FYE - my first single and video for any libertarian/individualist:

That's the argument, from the same man, which converted me from socialism so long ago. I wish I hadn't of taken a foray through conservatism to get where I am now from where I was then though.

i have to re-listen to it again after work. The man's accent is terrible and i have to really try to understand everything.  It seems to make sense though. 

Equality 7-2521 wrote: The T wrote: i have to re-listen to it again after work. The man's accent is terrible and i have to really try to understand everything.  It seems to make sense though.  Xenophobe.

I'm legal, so legal am I that your government is in the process of granting me the right to vote for its expansion! 

akamaisondufromage wrote: Presumably, there would be no such thing as an illegal (Alien) Immigrant in your Libertarian (Anarchist non chocolate icecream) society?

I've been an anarchist at heart for awhile now. Recently, I've stopped running from it, and I've started to devote a lot of time towards it. I'm very happy with my position now.

To answer you question then, since I don't believe in a government, there would be no notion of citizenship. Thus there would be no such thing as an illegal alien.

Even in a minimal state libertarian society, I'm really not sure that the government could be justified in denying entry to its lands. I don't think the idea of a illegal alien is valid their either.