Free Capitalist Network - Community Archive
Mises Community Archive
An online community for fans of Austrian economics and libertarianism, featuring forums, user blogs, and more.

World government...then what?

rated by 0 users
This post has 18 Replies | 3 Followers

Top 50 Contributor
Male
Posts 2,209
Points 35,645
Merlin Posted: Fri, Dec 18 2009 5:29 AM

Once we have a World Government, world currency, world laws and courts…what will happen next? I myself have already covered this topic elsewhere, and am just interested to hear other opinions.

The Regression theorem is a memetic equivalent of the Theory of Evolution. To say that the former precludes the free emergence of fiat currencies makes no more sense that to hold that the latter precludes the natural emergence of multicellular organisms.
  • | Post Points: 95
Top 25 Contributor
Male
Posts 3,592
Points 63,685
Sieben replied on Fri, Dec 18 2009 8:05 AM

Inflation, single player everything (health care, insurance, automobiles, schooling), a permanent war on terrorism, massive pollution

and eventually: intergalactic government!!!

Wouldn't it be sad if the only hope for humanity became some altruistic aliens armed with superior weaponry?

Banned
  • | Post Points: 20
Top 150 Contributor
Male
Posts 554
Points 9,130
Praetyre replied on Fri, Dec 18 2009 8:11 AM

I seriously doubt a regime like you are describing could last more than a few decades. Economically, it's unsustainable, though it might take a good chunk of the world down with it.

  • | Post Points: 5
Top 50 Contributor
Male
Posts 1,687
Points 22,990
Bogart replied on Fri, Dec 18 2009 9:07 AM

That is easy.  Poverty, starvation, destitution, environmental destruction leading to violence and coersion not seen since Lenin/Stalin, Hitler and Mao.  Mises said that there is no way for a central planner to plan even the smallest economy much less that of the entire world.  Eventually smuggling and black markets will take the place of the current semi-free ones.  The war between the smugglers and black marketeers with the government will make the USA-Mexican border a party.

  • | Post Points: 5
Not Ranked
Posts 5
Points 180
cpx replied on Fri, Dec 18 2009 10:18 AM

I would guess something along the following lines:

Massive inefficiencies in the economy. Discontent because of lower standards of living.

A complete disconnect between citizens and the elite. Accompanied by massive protests, violent radical extremists.

Clashes between the government goons and private citizens turned amateur militia-men. Death.

Black markets arising out of desperation and as a revolt. Government tries to crack down with more violence.

Then.. I don't know. That last bit sounds a lot like the communist regimes in their final days. It won't last very long, that's for sure. If communism only managed to survive for about 70 years in Europe, when the most efficient modes of communication were telephones and post, that number will likely be much lower in an age where almost everyone in the western world owns a cell phone, a computer and a camera. Heck, all three can fit in a device the size of a deck of cards. Plus, the communication networks are completely decentralized. It used to be that the government could just tap into your phone line via your operator, or read your mail as it went through the post office. There's no chance they will be able to do that with millions of cheap, wireless, portable devices.

So basically, I think it will go to Hell and back, but it'll come back a lot faster than last time :)

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 75 Contributor
Male
Posts 1,008
Points 16,185

its just ineffective... in my point of view a big government in a single country is ineffective and usually has much trouble stabilizing the economy. (ie. socialism, communism). Recent countries have fallen down financially because of hyperinflation, or the government just printing lots and lots of money. (ie. Post WW1 Germany, counties in Africa) 

So having a huge one world government is just wrong... if a huge government cant even control a single country than why do people think it is logical for a one world government to control the whole world?

Businesses would fall because there would be less or no competition. This would cause inflation. Ownership of private property would be abolished.

Would we really want to live in a world like that? I think not.

My Blog: http://www.anarchico.net/

Production is 'anarchistic' - Ludwig von Mises

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 200 Contributor
Male
Posts 397
Points 6,785
bearing01 replied on Fri, Dec 18 2009 11:26 AM

Well, I would rather an all out civil war and secession before I submbit to world communism.

Live free or die!

  • | Post Points: 5
Top 500 Contributor
Posts 366
Points 7,345
Fephisto replied on Fri, Dec 18 2009 1:27 PM

Merlin:

Once we have a World Government, world currency, world laws and courts…what will happen next?

About 10 more people become libertarians.

Latest Projects

"Even when leftists talk about discrimination and sexism, they're damn well talking about the results of the economic system" ~Neodoxy

  • | Post Points: 5
Top 500 Contributor
Male
Posts 318
Points 4,560
Wanderer replied on Fri, Dec 18 2009 2:13 PM

Merlin:

Once we have a World Government, world currency, world laws and courts…what will happen next?

Probably a one-world religion, my guess is Christianity or Islam.  This will help give the state legitimacy and a good way to indoctrinate people.

Periodically the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.

Thomas Jefferson

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 50 Contributor
Male
Posts 2,209
Points 35,645
Merlin replied on Fri, Dec 18 2009 7:12 PM

I mean, what next? Does this go on forever or what? My take: shortly the state crumbles and, after years of ethic cleansing and genocide,  thousands of ministates are rebuild slowly. In time they start expanding and…its all over again.

 

Optimistic, isn’t it?

The Regression theorem is a memetic equivalent of the Theory of Evolution. To say that the former precludes the free emergence of fiat currencies makes no more sense that to hold that the latter precludes the natural emergence of multicellular organisms.
  • | Post Points: 20
Top 50 Contributor
Posts 2,360
Points 43,785
z1235 replied on Fri, Dec 18 2009 7:27 PM

Why all these apocalyptic visions? For another possible outcome why not just assume that today's USA is the only country (land mass) on this planet (no other people and continents), and that its government is the world government. So everything would be the same as right now but better -- no enormous defense budget and no wars, hence much lower taxes. 

Z.

 

  • | Post Points: 50
Top 25 Contributor
Male
Posts 4,914
Points 70,630

they'll find an excuse to keep the government necessary.  pretend aliens from planet Rockie-Road-Ice-Cream or something will invade us

"Do not put out the fire of the spirit." 1The 5:19
  • | Post Points: 20
Top 100 Contributor
Posts 836
Points 15,370
abskebabs replied on Fri, Dec 18 2009 8:05 PM

wilderness:

they'll find an excuse to keep the government necessary.  pretend aliens from planet Rockie-Road-Ice-Cream or something will invade us

Perhaps aliens and ET will be the next myth to gain the major sponsorship by the state to be propogated by its intellectual apologists. Tbh I think most people can't wait for the world government, when I feel bitter, I almost feel like they deserve everything that's coming for them. Maybe there is no hope for humanity.

"When the King is far the people are happy."  Chinese proverb

For Alexander Zinoviev and the free market there is a shared delight:

"Where there are problems there is life."

  • | Post Points: 5
Not Ranked
Posts 5
Points 180
cpx replied on Sat, Dec 19 2009 6:56 AM

z1235:

Why all these apocalyptic visions? For another possible outcome why not just assume that today's USA is the only country (land mass) on this planet (no other people and continents), and that its government is the world government. So everything would be the same as right now but better -- no enormous defense budget and no wars, hence much lower taxes. 

Z.

 

Well, because the more centralized a government becomes, the more inefficient and authoritarian it becomes. If USA was the only country on earth it could very well become totalitarian too, because there isn't any other place for capital, labor and citizens to go, and the natural tendency for any government is to grow and centralize until it collapses under it's own weight. The only chance for hope is if the citizens are diligent enough to constantly keep their governments restrained.

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 50 Contributor
Male
Posts 2,943
Points 49,130
SystemAdministrator
Conza88 replied on Sat, Dec 19 2009 8:01 AM

z1235:

Why all these apocalyptic visions? For another possible outcome why not just assume that today's USA is the only country (land mass) on this planet (no other people and continents), and that its government is the world government. So everything would be the same as right now but better -- no enormous defense budget and no wars, hence much lower taxes. 

Z.

You've got it so wrong... it's not even worth elaborating on.

http://www.freedomforceinternational.org/pdf/Report_from_Iron_Mountain.pdf

Ron Paul is for self-government when compared to the Constitution. He's an anarcho-capitalist. Proof.
  • | Post Points: 20
Top 50 Contributor
Posts 2,360
Points 43,785
z1235 replied on Sat, Dec 19 2009 8:15 AM

cpx:
Well, because the more centralized a government becomes, the more inefficient and authoritarian it becomes. If USA was the only country on earth it could very well become totalitarian too, because there isn't any other place for capital, labor and citizens to go, and the natural tendency for any government is to grow and centralize until it collapses under it's own weight.

Capital, labor, and (would be) citizens have been (and still are) flowing TOWARD the USA. The suggestion that the ability of capital and citizens to LEAVE the USA is the main reason for it not becoming totalitarian is not plausable, at best. 

cpx:
The only chance for hope is if the citizens are diligent enough to constantly keep their governments restrained.

I agree. Regardless of the domain -- inter-galactic, world, continent, or island -- the government can only become and remain totalitarian to the extent that the citizens themselves would allow it.That's the self-adjusting beauty of it all. 

Z.

 

  • | Post Points: 5
Top 75 Contributor
Posts 1,485
Points 22,155
Kakugo replied on Sat, Dec 19 2009 8:53 AM

There won't be a One World Government, the US and the EU will clash militarily with China and perhaps India well before that and won't probably come out victorious.

Together we go unsung... together we go down with our people
  • | Post Points: 5
Top 50 Contributor
Posts 2,360
Points 43,785
z1235 replied on Sat, Dec 19 2009 9:49 AM

Conza88:

You've got it so wrong... it's not even worth elaborating on.

http://www.freedomforceinternational.org/pdf/Report_from_Iron_Mountain.pdf

In 1966, just like today, people (crazy or otherwise) had opinions and interpretations, and wrote about them. How long has Switzerland lasted as a state, and which wars have been (and currently are) necessary to sustain it as a concept?

Z.

 

 

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 50 Contributor
Male
Posts 2,943
Points 49,130
SystemAdministrator
Conza88 replied on Sat, Dec 19 2009 10:13 AM

z1235:

Conza88:

You've got it so wrong... it's not even worth elaborating on.

http://www.freedomforceinternational.org/pdf/Report_from_Iron_Mountain.pdf

In 1966, just like today, people (crazy or otherwise) had opinions and interpretations, and wrote about them.

And that has nothing to do with the above. Care to refute the reports findings?

Have you been watching the news.. the last decade?

What just happened at Copenhagen?

Ron Paul is for self-government when compared to the Constitution. He's an anarcho-capitalist. Proof.
  • | Post Points: 5
Page 1 of 1 (19 items) | RSS