There's this blog on LRC here, where Bill Anderson complains about commenters approving of the police beating in Burmingham here. Of course, LRC had a different stance way back. What's the proper libertarian position?
Police brutality is good because I like getting my ass beat to death.
Seriously I didn't realize there was any debate on this issue.
Stephen Forde:What's the proper libertarian position?
I want to make a smartass comment about this... but I won't.
Oh well, this is why I never endeavour to be a public intellectual. Too many things I regret.
Wow! Talk about bad reading comprehension. In that article, Lew DID NOT advocate "police brutality"; instead, he merely pointed out the correlation of... read the end of the article. And taking Lew's point to its logical extension, he is pointing the failure of the state (government) to keep us safe.
To paraphrase Marc Faber: We're all doomed, but that doesn't mean that we can't make money in the process. Rabbi Lapin: "Let's make bricks!" Stephan Kinsella: "Say you and I both want to make a German chocolate cake."
The article's nearly 20 years old. Seriously. Get a hobby.
February 17 - 1600 - Giordano Bruno is burnt alive by the catholic church. Aquinas : "much more reason is there for heretics, as soon as they are convicted of heresy, to be not only excommunicated but even put to death."
Cork:The article's nearly 20 years old. Seriously. Get a hobby.
If I get a hobby, where would I find the time to write forum posts linking to 20 yo articles? Anyway, what's you're answer to the OP?
Regarding the 20 yo article by Lew - we all mature in our thinking and expression, at least we hope so. Fortunately for me, my opinions of that same time period are not in the public record.
The real question is, "What is the proper libertarian position about state police?" Most, not all, libertarians would say that they are opposed to such an entity. So, at that point the question is moot, the police are only a violent criminal gang, and it follows that abuse is illegal, immoral, etc.
Those libertarians who support the existance of such an entity would clearly all the same be opposed to brutality by the same. It is a clear violation of the principle of non-aggression.
Greg
The Holy Cause
Police officers are just providing a service that's been monopolized by the state, there's no reason to dislike them any more than there's reason to dislike doctors or even members of the army. If they need to be brutal in their line of work, then so be it, their brutality should be regarded as the same as that of any other citizen.
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Bob Dylan