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

Introducing Minarchists to An-Cap

This post has 40 Replies | 7 Followers

Top 75 Contributor
Posts 1,189
Points 22,990
Libertyandlife Posted: Thu, Sep 30 2010 11:48 PM

Hey, I know some minarchists, who aren't particularly Austrian, and have never heard of voluntaryism,  what's a good way convincing/introducing to them to this idea without scaring them off?

Freedom has always been the only route to progress.

Post Neo-Left Libertarian Manifesto (PNL lib)
  • | Post Points: 95
Top 75 Contributor
Male
Posts 1,008
Points 19,520
Eric080 replied on Fri, Oct 1 2010 12:37 AM

Introduce them to the LvMI wink

 

Maybe just offer them the chance to read some Rothbard.  If they accept the challenge, afterwards maybe ask them how their defense of coercion is justifiable when their minarchism is a result of their detestation of government coercion in the first place.  Maybe this is a little too upfront though?  I'm sure there's a less provocative way rather than just arguing about it.  It seems to me that if they come to it on their own terms, they'll be more receptive.

 

If the'yre conservativeish minarchists (like of the Tea Partier ilk), I think drawing comparisons between war and socialism would be a great place to start.

"And it may be said with strict accuracy, that the taste a man may show for absolute government bears an exact ratio to the contempt he may profess for his countrymen." - de Tocqueville
  • | Post Points: 5
Top 10 Contributor
Male
Posts 11,343
Points 194,945
ForumsAdministrator
Moderator
SystemAdministrator

Don't treat it as a one off event.  Make the commitment to talk to them over 3 months, 6 months a year, and encourage them to take some of their pro-liberty conclusions to their logical conclusions.

"When you're young you worry about people stealing your ideas, when you're old you worry that they won't." - David Friedman
  • | Post Points: 20
Top 75 Contributor
Posts 1,434
Points 29,210

I would tell them to come on the forums and ask questions. I went from conservative/libertarian to pretty an-cap within like once month of constantly writing on this forum because people smashed my questions/arguments to pieces and I realized where I was wrong. It was really frustrating but it helped me more than I can explain.

YouTube videos of Austrian speakers never hurts either.

  • | Post Points: 5
Top 50 Contributor
Male
Posts 2,943
Points 49,130
SystemAdministrator
Conza88 replied on Fri, Oct 1 2010 2:08 AM

Yeah, I used to be frustrated that I couldn't convince someone in one setting... but neglected to realise that for myself it was a gradual process of learning for around a year +.

Find ways to make them interested in the philosophy, i.e truth. To get them on that path.

If they are in business, well... don't they think knowing why and how the business cycle will happen - would be good for their business and investment in the long term? etc.

Ron Paul is for self-government when compared to the Constitution. He's an anarcho-capitalist. Proof.
  • | Post Points: 5
Top 200 Contributor
Male
Posts 444
Points 6,230

For A New Liberty was the book that made me shift from minarchism to anarcho-capitalism.  All I was stuck on at the time was roads, courts, police, and somewhat military.  While reading the book, my monopolistic thoughts on courts and police were crushed, and the rest just fell after you see that competition in the market can do everything better than a monopoly:

http://mises.org/resources/1010/For-a-New-Liberty-The-Libertarian-Manifesto

My long term project to get every PDF into EPUB: Mises Books

EPUB requests/News: (Semi-)Official Mises.org EPUB Release Topic

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 25 Contributor
Male
Posts 3,592
Points 63,685
Sieben replied on Fri, Oct 1 2010 9:07 AM

Secession

Declaration of peace with hypothetical anarcho-capitalist society on island

Banned
  • | Post Points: 20
Top 500 Contributor
Male
Posts 317
Points 6,805
dude6935 replied on Sat, Oct 2 2010 12:12 AM

As someone who is pretty much minarchist, I don't see how a court system can be private. That is my biggest hangup. I can see private police, fire, mail, ect. But I can't see private courts or private military as an improvement. I would guess most minarchists are trying to think practically, not idealistically. If you want to convince them, show them how an-cap can be practical. That is, if it can be.

  • | Post Points: 50
Top 500 Contributor
Posts 254
Points 6,065
Coase replied on Sat, Oct 2 2010 12:17 AM

What turned me from a minarchist to an anarchist was the realization that I was applying a double standard to anarchism. I was demanding arguments and evidence from the anarchist side that I was not demanding and could not demand from the minarchist side. Once I saw that, it was easy to make the jump to anarchism.

The arguments that were most effective in helping me realize the double standard were those that turned statist arguments back on themselves. ("How does a private court system work?" "Well, how does a public court system work?" Make them realize that if the roles were reversed their arguments would be no stronger.)

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 500 Contributor
Posts 163
Points 5,275

dude6935:

As someone who is pretty much minarchist, I don't see how a court system can be private. 

Instead of a court system forcing individuals to have consequences for their supposed mis-deeds, a judge would simply pass judgment on the situation with his years of experience as a guide. People would consider his ruling, and socially treat the guilty party accordingly. At least, thats what I think. 

  • | Post Points: 5
Top 10 Contributor
Male
Posts 11,343
Points 194,945
ForumsAdministrator
Moderator
SystemAdministrator

dude6935:
As someone who is pretty much minarchist, I don't see how a court system can be private.

Give this a read.  http://faculty.msb.edu/hasnasj/GTWebSite/MythWeb.htm

dude6935:
That is my biggest hangup.

It was mine too.

dude6935:
I would guess most minarchists are trying to think practically, not idealistically. If you want to convince them, show them how an-cap can be practical. That is, if it can be.

Again, check out that link.

"When you're young you worry about people stealing your ideas, when you're old you worry that they won't." - David Friedman
  • | Post Points: 20
Top 10 Contributor
Male
Posts 11,343
Points 194,945
ForumsAdministrator
Moderator
SystemAdministrator

Coase:
The arguments that were most effective in helping me realize the double standard were those that turned statist arguments back on themselves. ("How does a private court system work?" "Well, how does a public court system work?" Make them realize that if the roles were reversed their arguments would be no stronger.)

This was similar for me.  I just took the free market to its logical end.  If there is demand, a market will emerge, if there is demand for good law, good police, good defense, then entrepreneurs will figure out ways to provide it.

It wasn't consistent of me to make these great proclamations about the beauty of the market, and then deny that society has a demand for different sets or rules, and different "social" services  By denying those areas of society a market, all of my free market enthusiasm was pretty phony.

So I stopped worrying about how specifically (planning utopia), and started supporting the a system which is not self-defeating (moral double standards).

Markets.

"When you're young you worry about people stealing your ideas, when you're old you worry that they won't." - David Friedman
  • | Post Points: 5
Top 500 Contributor
Male
Posts 317
Points 6,805
dude6935 replied on Mon, Oct 4 2010 12:17 AM

liberty student:

Good read. But I still see problems. If our court system has imperfect legitimacy, won't any free market court have this same problem. For example, a murderer does not recognize any court as legitimate because he does not voluntarily submit to its judgement. 

But, I do see how free market adjudication is an improvement in voluntary arbitration.

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 10 Contributor
Male
Posts 11,343
Points 194,945
ForumsAdministrator
Moderator
SystemAdministrator

dude6935:
Good read. But I still see problems.

Anarcho-Capitalism isn't utopia.  We're not Marxists.

dude6935:
If our court system has imperfect legitimacy, won't any free market court have this same problem. For example, a murderer does not recognize any court as legitimate because he does not voluntarily submit to its judgement.

The illegitimacy of the current system has nothing to do with how unfair it may seem to murderers.

"When you're young you worry about people stealing your ideas, when you're old you worry that they won't." - David Friedman
  • | Post Points: 20
Not Ranked
Male
Posts 17
Points 370

The legitimacy of public services is dependent upon the democratic process, which is dependent on our morality, which is dependent on reality. Therefore, if necessary, public services will sustain or be no longer based on a majority agreement. Of course the democratic process is subject to error: Groups can agree on an entity at one time, and upon heeding knowledge of its efficiency in practice, remove it at another. The Individual Rights concept prevents this process from interfering with law, seeing that the minority needs a floor of rights, and the majority needs a ceiling of power. Like any venture for any individual, our actions are put on trial by reality, and we keep improving our ability to act based on reality's conviction. The reason a singular government is necessary, is so that its power is enough to justify its existence. Succinctly, the democratic process as used to formulate a most efficient government, is an expanded version of this trial by reality process, with everyone's words being a facet of the plot.

And, ultimately, even adherence to government force is voluntary, unless you believe it is impossible to leave its jurisdiction.

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 10 Contributor
Male
Posts 11,343
Points 194,945
ForumsAdministrator
Moderator
SystemAdministrator

Logic As Law 1227:
The legitimacy of public services is dependent upon the democratic process

Democracy is mob rule.  It is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.

Logic As Law 1227:
The reason a singular government is necessary, is so that its power is enough to justify its existence.

Well, isn't that a misguided state of affairs.  We need a singular government so it has enough power to be a singular government.

Still arguing for one world government?

Logic As Law 1227:
And, ultimately, even adherence to government force is voluntary, unless you believe it is impossible to leave its jurisdiction.

Ah yes, the love it or leave it argument.

"When you're young you worry about people stealing your ideas, when you're old you worry that they won't." - David Friedman
  • | Post Points: 20
Not Ranked
Male
Posts 17
Points 370

liberty student:
Democracy is mob rule.  It is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.

Anarcho-capitalism is mob rule. It is two wolves having the freedom to murder one sheep, without the presence of a governmental safeguard

liberty student:
Well, isn't that a misguided state of affairs.  We need a singular government so it has enough power to be a singular government.

Dividing the powers of the government into an innumerable amount of deviations, would be tantamount to choosing gangs over government. So many different agents of force...I cannot see that working as well as a government does to prevent the use of it. How many different "private" governments would you foresee encompassing the United States? Well, they wouldn't be united anymore, and they would be much more numerous, if not called states at all.

We need a singular world government so that the concept of individual rights is not compromised. Otherwise, the individual rights of your neighbor will eventually be entirely different from yours. This is a disastrous state of affairs

liberty student:
Ah yes, the love it or leave it argument.

Love it, vote to change it, or form your own government argument. Love it or leave is is applicable to a dictatorship, where its actions are independent of citizen opinion. "It" as in a government within a constitutionally bounded republic dependent on the combination of democracy and individual rights, is produced by the citizens. Therefore, "it" cannot be there without the citizens.

But yes, your posts invoke a dilemma I have to consider. The claim that government is necessary, can be maximized to include not only a nation of many, but every nation, and therefore, the only nation. If I think that the democratic process, along with a safeguard that protects against force and establishes a basis of rights, is the most efficient system, than I have to agree that it would work no matter its scale...Hmm...

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 10 Contributor
Male
Posts 11,343
Points 194,945
ForumsAdministrator
Moderator
SystemAdministrator

Logic As Law 1227:

liberty student:
Democracy is mob rule.  It is two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.

Anarcho-capitalism is mob rule. It is two wolves having the freedom to murder one sheep, without the presence of a governmental safeguard

You do not understand ancap at all.

Logic As Law 1227:
Dividing the powers of the government into an innumerable amount of deviations, would be tantamount to choosing gangs over government. So many different agents of force...I cannot see that working as well as a government does to prevent the use of it. How many different "private" governments would you foresee encompassing the United States? Well, they wouldn't be united anymore, and they would be much more numerous, if not called states at all.

And this is a problem why?

Logic As Law 1227:
We need a singular world government so that the concept of individual rights is not compromised. Otherwise, the individual rights of your neighbor will eventually be entirely different from yours. This is a disastrous state of affairs

Indeed, a one world government would be a disasterous state of affairs.  There would be no market for politics, ethics, law, money, or freedom.

Who knew that liberty was the absence of competition?

Logic As Law 1227:
Love it, vote to change it, or form your own government argument. Love it or leave is is applicable to a dictatorship, where its actions are independent of citizen opinion.

You're placing the democratic state above the individual, in this regard, the state functions as a dictatorship.

Logic As Law 1227:
It" as in a government within a constitutionally bounded republic dependent on the combination of democracy and individual rights, is produced by the citizens. Therefore, "it" cannot be there without the citizens.

Citizens are individuals, not a collective entity.  The notion of collective consent rejects methodological individualism, and also signs us up for the cookoo train of Constitution worship.  The Constitution has no authority, it was signed by people long since dead, and a contract is only valid when explicitly agreed to.  An implicit contract, imposed on birth is for all intents and purposes, a slave contract.

Logic As Law 1227:
But yes, your posts invoke a dilemma I have to consider. The claim that government is necessary, can be maximized to include not only a nation of many, but every nation, and therefore, the only nation. If I think that the democratic process, along with a safeguard that protects against force and establishes a basis of rights, is the most efficient system, than I have to agree that it would work no matter its scale...Hmm...

Welcome to the jungle.

"When you're young you worry about people stealing your ideas, when you're old you worry that they won't." - David Friedman
  • | Post Points: 20
Not Ranked
Male
Posts 17
Points 370

liberty student:
You do not understand ancap at all.

Explain why this wouldn't occur

liberty student:
And this is a problem why?

So many governments will focus on force rather than reason. Without a safeguard a group of people agreeing on barbarism will have the oppurtunity to kill off a more intellectual group of people. Force will overcome thought unless it is suppressed. We would devolve into precapitalistic societies, where force is emphasized, and intellectuality is compromised. Do you think the murder rate would decrease if the prospect of prison time and even death was removed?

liberty student:
Citizens are individuals, not a collective entity.  The notion of collective consent rejects methodological individualism, and also signs us up for the cookoo train of Constitution worship.  The Constitution has no authority, it was signed by people long since dead, and a contract is only valid when explicitly agreed to.  An implicit contract, imposed on birth is for all intents and purposes, a slave contract.

I never said that collective consent is valid. The decision making of a government is not autonomous; a government is made up of individuals. And as an individual, I can read the constitution and agree/disagree, decide that adjustments (amendments) are necessary, and use the process to try and realize these adjustments.

  • | Post Points: 35
Top 25 Contributor
Posts 3,415
Points 56,650
filc replied on Mon, Oct 4 2010 11:44 AM

liberty student:
You do not understand ancap at all.

Logic As Law 1227:
Explain why this wouldn't occur

Because a market provides for the majority and the minority alike. Whereas democracy only provides for the majority, end of story. The market is not mob rule, the market is consumer sovereignty. The two systems mechanically function extremely differently.  As LS says, you have much to learn about Anarcho-Capitalism before you can really begin to criticize it. Use some of that logic you have in your name. :)

  • | Post Points: 20
Not Ranked
Posts 76
Points 1,575

IMHO, the best way is to "nudge" rather than "force" them in the right direction.  They have to discover it on their own, but we can help guide their course of discovery.

  • | Post Points: 5
Not Ranked
Male
Posts 17
Points 370

filc:
Because a market provides for the majority and the minority alike. Whereas democracy only provides for the majority, end of story. The market is not mob rule, the market is consumer sovereignty. The two systems mechanically function extremely differently.  As LS says, you have much to learn about Anarcho-Capitalism before you can really begin to criticize it. Use some of that logic you have in your name. :)

That is why I'm here. To learn. To adjust based on knowledge, or to validate. My biggest disagreement with anarcho=capitalism is its susceptibility to mob rule, not by vote, but by force.

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 25 Contributor
Posts 3,415
Points 56,650
filc replied on Mon, Oct 4 2010 12:21 PM

Logic As Law:
That is why I'm here. To learn. To adjust based on knowledge, or to validate. My biggest disagreement with anarcho=capitalism is its susceptibility to mob rule, not by vote, but by force.

Forgive my bluntness, this may sound rude but I'm not intending it to be rude.

Do you think the market only successfully works when a benevolent overarching institute of coercion keeps it in line?

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 500 Contributor
Male
Posts 317
Points 6,805

The illegitimacy of the current system has nothing to do with how unfair it may seem to murderers.

Indeed. But wouldn't a murderer see any ancap justice as illegitimate also? He does not voluntarily submit to its judgement like parties to arbitration do. How does an anarcho-capitalist society deal with murderers while being voluntary?

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 25 Contributor
Posts 3,415
Points 56,650
filc replied on Mon, Oct 4 2010 3:49 PM

Dude6935:
How does an anarcho-capitalist society deal with murderers while being voluntary?

Property rights. That includes over land as well. It wouldn't work the way your advocating it. Many Ancaps are pacifists(myself). If it comes t, a murderer who does not voluntarily choose to submit, we can employ mechanisms such as ostracism.

  • | Post Points: 20
Not Ranked
Male
Posts 17
Points 370

filc:
Forgive my bluntness, this may sound rude but I'm not intending it to be rude.

Do you think the market only successfully works when a benevolent overarching institute of coercion keeps it in line?

I welcome your bluntness.

I think the market's success in bringing us to intelligible solution is critically dependent on an institution designed to prevent force. I mean, you can't deny that many people would kill if it weren't for this coercion.

But anarchism, is voluntary government then, correct? Then, you don't deny that governments will develop, and people will choose the government most preferable to them, right? Private governments, voluntary governments. I am not sure, but it seems that the same "benevolent overarching institute of coercion will develop, as to use the survival of the fittest term, only the fittest government will survive.

  • | Post Points: 35
Top 10 Contributor
Posts 7,105
Points 115,240
ForumsAdministrator
Moderator
SystemAdministrator

Logic As Law 1227:
 Then, you don't deny that governments will develop, and people will choose the government most preferable to them, right? Private governments, voluntary governments. I am not sure, but it seems that the same "benevolent overarching institute of coercion will develop, as to use the survival of the fittest term, only the fittest government will survive.

Why do you think government governance services are a natural monopoly ? 

I don't think anything is in any meaningful sense.

But if you too don't see that then you should agree that the fittest 'so called - government', like the fittest shoe store will survive .... under a regime of competition which keeps it as honest as it can be kept. (swap out /honest/ for any concern that you feel more keenly, (just/pragmatic/cost-effective/etc/etc/))

 

Where there is no property there is no justice; a proposition as certain as any demonstration in Euclid

Fools! not to see that what they madly desire would be a calamity to them as no hands but their own could bring

  • | Post Points: 5
Top 25 Contributor
Posts 3,415
Points 56,650
filc replied on Mon, Oct 4 2010 4:47 PM

Logic as Law:
I think the market's success in bringing us to intelligible solution is critically dependent on an institution designed to prevent force.

I think the solution to defense of property can be erected on the market, as defense is an economic good. I don't think the market's functionality rests solely upon the pre-existence of an over-arching monopoly of force. Markets were around long before states were.

Logic as Law:
 I mean, you can't deny that many people would kill if it weren't for this coercion.

Well I would argue that I can. I can deny that people would kill simply because there was an absence absence of an over-arching monopoly of law and coercion. To clarify, people WOULD kill, for sure, but not as a consequence to there being no state. People kill regardless. No institution will prevent murder, or murderers. If the intended purpose of this over-arching coercion was to prevent death by homocide, it's obviously failed. 

Either way

Logic as Law:
But anarchism, is voluntary government then, correct? Then, you don't deny that governments will develop, and people will choose the government most preferable to them, right

I guess I like to make a distinction between governance and governments. The latter typically a state of some sort.

Logic as Law:
My biggest disagreement with anarcho=capitalism is its susceptibility to mob rule, not by vote, but by force.

If this is truely your greatest concern, what political philosophy do you offer up as a solution to this alleged problem?

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 500 Contributor
Male
Posts 317
Points 6,805
dude6935 replied on Mon, Oct 4 2010 11:03 PM

Ostracism due to crime is a little weak for my taste. A lot weak actually. 

I was explaining AnCap and to my girlfriend tonight. She made the move to where I am philosophically in a single conversation. It took months to get her from Liberal to ConservoLib. 

During the conversation, I thought of a mechanism to give free courts legitimacy.

A community would ask that residents sign a contract that outlines agreements against murder, theft, ect. If they break the agreement, they have already agreed to submit to the local justice system. Then any punishment is not force, but a contractual penalty. If they refuse to sign the agreement, they can be ostracized. 

This doesn't deal with people who just drift in to town. But it is a step in the right direction (IMHO).

  • | Post Points: 5
Top 10 Contributor
Male
Posts 11,343
Points 194,945
ForumsAdministrator
Moderator
SystemAdministrator

Logic As Law 1227:

liberty student:
You do not understand ancap at all.

Explain why this wouldn't occur

Ancap is not a promise of utopia but it is predicated on the non-aggression principle.  So to argue that non-aggressors would form a community of aggression is like arguing that vegetarians are going to raise livestock for food.

Logic As Law 1227:
So many governments will focus on force rather than reason. Without a safeguard a group of people agreeing on barbarism will have the oppurtunity to kill off a more intellectual group of people.

This is Hobbesian and in my opinion, misguided.  Man is not innately barbaric.  We didn't evolve societies by accident.

Logic As Law 1227:
Force will overcome thought unless it is suppressed.

So we need force to stop force so we can have reason.  Too bad reason isn't strong enough to overcome force.  Oh hay.....

Logic As Law 1227:
We would devolve into precapitalistic societies, where force is emphasized, and intellectuality is compromised. Do you think the murder rate would decrease if the prospect of prison time and even death was removed?

Again, you do not understand ancap.  And we are only going to devolve to pre-capitalist societies if the state keeps pursuing its structurally inevitable slide into totalitarian socialism.

Logic As Law 1227:
I never said that collective consent is valid.

Did you not appeal to democracy?

Logic As Law 1227:
The decision making of a government is not autonomous; a government is made up of individuals.

Indeed, the government is of men, not of the law or the people.

Logic As Law 1227:
And as an individual, I can read the constitution and agree/disagree, decide that adjustments (amendments) are necessary, and use the process to try and realize these adjustments.

So you have to obey the Constitution if you disagree with the Constitution so you can change the Constitution into something you can agree with, but you already do agree with it, because you obeyed it at the start.

Next question, how do 300 million people amend the Constitution so that it reflects all of their individual preferences?

Another question, why do you have to use the process to try for something that you never gave consent to have taken away in the first place?

"When you're young you worry about people stealing your ideas, when you're old you worry that they won't." - David Friedman
  • | Post Points: 35
Not Ranked
Male
Posts 17
Points 370

nirgrahamUK:
Why do you think government governance services are a natural monopoly ?

I don't think anything is in any meaningful sense.

But if you too don't see that then you should agree that the fittest 'so called - government', like the fittest shoe store will survive .... under a regime of competition which keeps it as honest as it can be kept. (swap out /honest/ for any concern that you feel more keenly, (just/pragmatic/cost-effective/etc/etc/))

Well, firstly, that distinction you're making is entirely semantics, since any governance implies a government, governments employ governance. As far as the jurisdiction of a voluntary "governance" is concerned, you would have to think that forms of governance will be tested, and expand jurisdiction or lose jurisdiction based on their efficiency, like a shoe store as you've suggested. However, history is littered with oppressive regimes, it is evident that propoganda and force can equate to much power and dominance. How long did Hitler last? Under a system that involves a constitution, one which forbids the suppression of free speech to the pursuit to happiness, how far would such a regime go in the process? Hitler would be condemned and ostracised, but not killed, a probable solution the other poster suggested. But were the constitution not a barrier, a protection from this use of force, such a man as charismatic as Hitler will have his oppurtunity to reign. Unless the constitution of the United States is altered or made obsolete, and as long as those under its government's jurisdiction as well as the government itself agree that the use of force is immoral and should be prevented (which has to hold an overwhelming majority), you have to consider that in the venture to prevent force, the U.S. government is very voluntary. Of course many other ventures I'm sure you vehemontly disagree with, such as welfare, social security, medicare, unemployment. But, such is the fallibility of government as a concept.

filc:
I think the solution to defense of property can be erected on the market, as defense is an economic good. I don't think the market's functionality rests solely upon the pre-existence of an over-arching monopoly of force. Markets were around long before states were.

Yes but the market's freedom in producing every other good that is deemed important would be subjigated to the presence of, not force preventing institutions, but force inducing establishments. Defense is an economic good, and we pay for a defense through taxation. This form of defense is not entirely dependent on our desire as to how we want it to function. But the vital feature of the military, is that its funding is dependent on our cooperation. Also, since citizens can join the army and do, the army has incentive not to revolt and abandon the features it promises to us.

Markets were before states, but markets led to the formation of states. Everything emanates from the market of ideas. A singular government is an idea.

filc:
Well I would argue that I can. I can deny that people would kill simply because there was an absence absence of an over-arching monopoly of law and coercion. To clarify, people WOULD kill, for sure, but not as a consequence to there being no state. People kill regardless. No institution will prevent murder, or murderers. If the intended purpose of this over-arching coercion was to prevent death by homocide, it's obviously failed. 

I say prevent because that is the goal of the institution, not on its resume of achievements. Everyone on this board I assume, agrees that murder is immoral and lacks a place in a functioning society. But this isn't because we have an innate moral conviction that allows us to prevent murder. It is because we have searched for philosophy, morality, and politics. All of these realms generally aim to eradicate murder. But, some haven't. Some will tell you that muder is a just means to a just end. Without the government threatening prison time or death, there is no reason why these individuals won't suppress intellect in favor of force. In a place without coercive prevention of force, and in a sphere where force initiating governments are given sanction, the strength of bullets from a gun will tragically overcome the strength of the mind.

filc:
I guess I like to make a distinction between governance and governments. The latter typically a state of some sort.

It sounds like the former is a function of the latter

filc:
If this is truely your greatest concern, what political philosophy do you offer up as a solution to this alleged problem

Despite many tragedies it has suffered, I think the American system of a representative government has done a healthy job in promoting intellect over force, and through capitalism it continues to rise the standard of living, despite many of its politicians wanting to move away from it. I mean, consider the living standard of those considered to be in poverty:

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2004/01/understanding-poverty-in-america

This article is from 2004, but even now, almost half of those considered poor, own their homes outright. This is because the market, while not allowed to initiate force, is geared to be used to produce everything else. Or that is how I envision the most efficient system. Generally, the American concept of government should allow only for military, police, and courts, all of which are susceptible to citizen opinion and made up of citizen participation.  

 

 

  • | Post Points: 5
Not Ranked
Male
Posts 17
Points 370

liberty student:
Ancap is not a promise of utopia but it is predicated on the non-aggression principle.  So to argue that non-aggressors would form a community of aggression is like arguing that vegetarians are going to raise livestock for food.

To argue that non-aggresors would form a community that is not subject to aggresors looking to form their own community, is to deny the presence of brutality.

Not to mention the U.S. Constitution and system was designed to be non-aggressive. Franklin reffered to our policy as that of a rattlesnake: attack when attacked or threatened.

liberty student:
This is Hobbesian and in my opinion, misguided.  Man is not innately barbaric.  We didn't evolve societies by accident.

Man is not innately pacifistic either. The presence of murderous regimes and even murderers in America tells us they still lurk.

liberty student:
So we need force to stop force so we can have reason.  Too bad reason isn't strong enough to overcome force.  Oh hay.....

Reason has told us that force is to be prevented. We don't need force; a society functions with highest propensity for prosperity when force is exiled. But we need self defense, that is the reaction to force. The Law is a negative concept: it prevents, not initiates.

liberty student:
Again, you do not understand ancap.  And we are only going to devolve to pre-capitalist societies if the state keeps pursuing its structurally inevitable slide into totalitarian socialism.

Ok. And agreed.

liberty student:
Did you not appeal to democracy?

Tell me the difference between democracy as to a method of adjusting the government, and the method that would be used to adjust a "voluntary government" in ancap.

liberty student:
Indeed, the government is of men, not of the law or the people.

The law comes from men, and men are persons.  

liberty student:
So you have to obey the Constitution if you disagree with the Constitution so you can change the Constitution into something you can agree with, but you already do agree with it, because you obeyed it at the start.

Next question, how do 300 million people amend the Constitution so that it reflects all of their individual preferences?

Another question, why do you have to use the process to try for something that you never gave consent to have taken away in the first place?

You take consent in living within the jurisdiction of the government. You don't have to obey anything, unless you wish to live under its jurisdiction. Obedience =/= Agreement. A victim of robbery doesn't agree with the robber's theivery. He obeys his command at the threat of force. But the difference between a robber and a government, is that a government prevents force (such as robbers).

The Constitution is also subject to interpretation. It was once interpreted to sanction slavery.

Also, I think your vision of an ancap society is dependent on your idea that everyone volunteering to be in a particular governance will agree with everything. If you don't, then I could raise the same questions you do. For instance: Let us suppose I agree with every action of a government, except that it bans abortion. Then according to your logic

I have to obey the rules of the government if I disagree with the government so you can change the government into something you can agree with, but I already do agree with it, because I obeyed it at the start.

What does a person with disagreement within a voluntary governance dynamic do? And how does it differ from the democratic process?

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 75 Contributor
Male
Posts 1,289
Points 18,820
MaikU replied on Tue, Oct 5 2010 5:58 AM

Oh my god...oh my god... all statist apologetics in ONE post. Incredible.

"Dude... Roderick Long is the most anarchisty anarchist that has ever anarchisted!" - Evilsceptic

(english is not my native language, sorry for grammar.)

  • | Post Points: 20
Not Ranked
Male
Posts 17
Points 370

"Oh my god...oh my god... all statist apologetics in ONE post. Incredible."

Previous Knowledge +Your Post = Previous Knowledge

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 75 Contributor
Male
Posts 1,289
Points 18,820
MaikU replied on Tue, Oct 5 2010 6:38 AM

Do you know anything about logic? Srsly. I mean, I was skeptical atheist when I first got into anarchism (I never was a minarchist though), and skepticism and critical thinking helped me understand anarchist points and I just realized I no longer believe a state. I mean, I never even did, I just wasn't aware of it.

"Dude... Roderick Long is the most anarchisty anarchist that has ever anarchisted!" - Evilsceptic

(english is not my native language, sorry for grammar.)

  • | Post Points: 20
Not Ranked
Male
Posts 17
Points 370

"Do you know anything about logic? Srsly. I mean, I was skeptical atheist when I first got into anarchism (I never was a minarchist though), and skepticism and critical thinking helped me understand anarchist points and I just realized I no longer believe a state. I mean, I never even did, I just wasn't aware of it.

There is no identifyable reason for anything you are saying. Are you trying to say that if I disagree with anarchism, I am suddenly unable to achieve awareness of logic?

"(I never was a minarchist though)"

You never believed in a state.

"I just realized I no longer believe a state"

So you used to believe in a state.

"I mean, I never even did, I just wasn't aware of it

You never believed in a state.

I think you mean to say, I just realized I never believed in a state. That's the best I can do.

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 75 Contributor
Male
Posts 1,289
Points 18,820
MaikU replied on Tue, Oct 5 2010 7:19 AM

Poor choice of words. My bad. I mean, I never believed in the authority of the state, but this idea of the state has always be with me, like with most people who grew up under the state.

So what has changed was that I left this idea of the state, not that I ever believed in its authority. Same with god, actually. I never believed in deity, but also I was afraid of "what if" and things like that, also my family pressure etc. But for real? No. Never. That's why I think it was easier for me to become anarchist.

And for you I suggest to read more topics (either on this forum or somewhere else) before debating Liberty Student and ask questions about anarchy in general. He won't convince you, and you won't believe what he says unless you do research yourself.

"Dude... Roderick Long is the most anarchisty anarchist that has ever anarchisted!" - Evilsceptic

(english is not my native language, sorry for grammar.)

  • | Post Points: 5
Top 50 Contributor
Posts 2,360
Points 43,785
z1235 replied on Tue, Oct 5 2010 7:46 AM

Liberty Student:
So to argue that non-aggressors would form a community of aggression is like arguing that vegetarians are going to raise livestock for food.

...or doctors using disease (vaccines) to prevent disease.

Liberty Student:
We didn't evolve societies by accident.

States, on the other hand...

Z.

  • | Post Points: 35
Top 75 Contributor
Posts 1,189
Points 22,990

"When a reporter asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to explain where in the Constitution she found the authority to nationalize the health insurance industry, she laughed and replied, "Are you serious? Are you serious?" So what if the Constitution says nothing about granting the federal government the power to force Americans to buy approved health insurance packages? As Virginia's Democratic Senator Mark Warner explained, "There is no place in the Constitution that talks about you ought to have the right to get a telephone, but we have made those choices as a country over the years.""

-Thomas E Woods

^This is pretty much how all politics works.

Freedom has always been the only route to progress.

Post Neo-Left Libertarian Manifesto (PNL lib)
  • | Post Points: 20
Top 75 Contributor
Male
Posts 1,289
Points 18,820
MaikU replied on Tue, Oct 5 2010 8:23 AM

z1235:

Liberty Student:
So to argue that non-aggressors would form a community of aggression is like arguing that vegetarians are going to raise livestock for food.

...or doctors using disease (vaccines) to prevent disease.

false analogy very common among natural medicine believers (not that I think you are the one, just sayin'). They only induce immunity of a body, not make you sick with that disease. :)

 

From wiki:

"Vaccines are dead or inactivated organisms or purified products derived from them.

There are several types of vaccines currently in use.These represent different strategies used to try to reduce risk of illness, while retaining the ability to induce a beneficial immune response."

"Dude... Roderick Long is the most anarchisty anarchist that has ever anarchisted!" - Evilsceptic

(english is not my native language, sorry for grammar.)

  • | Post Points: 5
Page 1 of 2 (41 items) 1 2 Next > | RSS