Recently, an author here on nolanchart.com posted an article that took a real stretch with the truth. In fact the truth was splintered nearly into atoms. The glue of reality should do nicely to fit these "pieces" back together and make sense of it all. What is simply is. Ayn Rand said, "A=A" good readers.
What the reality of it is, is that the force of government, in what I'll now call the Libertarian "Village", has been taken out of the picture. Many are afraid of the total absence of the lack of the heavy hand of the state. Custom and tradition had wrongly deemed it fit to have every transaction of government, performed at the threat of a gun for non-compliance.
They fear the unknown or more likely, those that just have such a large stake in the state as a means to keep their bills paid that the vast improvements to our lives that proven liberty offers is alien to them. The better way, means an end to outright moochers and cushy jobs at the expense of the taxpayers. Some will have just no part of that as dependence is just too strong of a motivator.
As for the article's depiction of "no sewer and water systems hooked up to every home" and "everyone drills their own well and provides their own outhouse or septic system as they see fit" is absurd on its face. It ignores the simple fact that there may already be existing systems in the village. If it were not yet built, folks would pool their resources to build it.
It also ignores an even more obvious fact that people will cooperate to fund what they need. It was most certainly implied yet strangely enough never proven, that people will stupidly choose instead the heavy labor and expense of digging their own wells simply because they feel that government force will leave them no other choices. What nonsense!
When we stop being needy busybodies totally dependent on the state, that we would right off cast away any semblance of cooperation? How utterly ridiculous! That is just too absurd to even start to wrap my head around.
It gets even goofier as the staunch adherents of the state spare no outright lie whatsoever to prop up their notion of the 100% voluntary "society" and the village as run by backwards louts that by default, supposedly wish only to alienate themselves from each other, since they had already alienated themselves from the coercive society they escaped from.
One-size-fits-nobody policing is the only option presented, and again that old western movie chestnut of the "posse" presumably deputized to chase after thugs, train robbers and jaywalkers. They would also, it seems do so on horseback, as these guys are mistakenly assumed to be backwards heavily armed, knuckle dragging oafs.
Paying for differing levels of 100% privatized, "police protection" never is allowed to enter the picture. Park the horse back at the ranch, Hoss. Little Joe will look after him, I promise. If you need a guard stationed in your front yard 24/7 you pay a bit more, one security official driving a patrol in your neighborhood, or anything in between, pony up.
I'll bet you dollars to donuts they'll treat you better than you'd get from current police officers in action on the streets and it would cost you a lot less that you're paying now to have your kids murdered by rogue cops on the Oakland, California (BART) subway system.
Roads, fire departments, you name it, we build it and charge you less for it's use. Competition will do wonders to weed out crummy monopoly service providers. Government is just people, not magic. In the Libertarian village we've only eliminated force from the equation, and replaced it with good service to keep the customer happy by treating him or her as a customer with the respect and kindness they truly deserve. I think that if you merely show up at the village, you'll be pleased. Come into town and you'll be overjoyed.
With Liberty,
Dan Steward
©2009 Dan Steward, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Friday, January 16, 2009
Last modified: Friday, January 16, 2009
The views expressed in this article are those of Dan Steward only and do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Dan Steward is solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
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Reader Comments:
Posted By: Darren
Date: 2009-01-16 10:47:44
I don't see how force has been removed from the equation. If Guy A and Guy B have a disagreement, but they've both hired different "enforcement" agency, how do they work it out? Even after a lot of negotiation, neither party will compromise?
Or to add to the scenario, let's say that Guy B chooses to "represent himself" when it comes to all matters regarding his security. How can one deal with him?
Posted By: Master C
Date: 2009-01-16 13:50:11
Dan,
Some people actually believe that “A=A” stuff. They’re usually the same ones who still believe that Santa will bring them that new putter they want, or think that lucky shirt with all the holes and ragged edges they’ve nearly worn out will help them win the lottery. As the certainties of Aristotle have given way to the relativity of Einstein, we should also stick those Ayn Rand convictions that some people cling to like lint from the dryer in the footlocker in the attic where the other old, used up, and outdated objects eventually end up.
Dan obviously has a few things mixed up about people in a system of government like we have in the U.S. He thinks that many people “have such a large stake in the state as a means to keep their bills paid” that he wants to put an end to those “outright moochers and (those who have) cushy jobs at the expense of the taxpayers.”
Dan needs to realize that most people PAY taxes not receive PAYMENTS for their bills in our system of government. Only those who can’t contribute or can only contribute modestly RECEIVE payments. What he calls “freeloaders” and “moochers” are really people who have very little and who need help. None of those “cushy” government jobs he refers to earn more than $500,000/year ~ even the President or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ~ yet the private sector is FULL of freeloaders who are paid outrageous amounts to make beer, donuts, guns, and cigarettes! Now THAT’S the kettle calling the pot black!
Dan and his deceased and repeatedly discredited idol (except on this website, of course, but this is where EVERYTHING is turned upside down ~ the Bizarro World of the internet), Ayn Rand, seem to see HELP given to people as “mooching” because they HOARD their help and generosity like Ebeneezer Scrooge hoarded his gold coins. To help people who need help doesn’t make them moochers, it makes those who help generous, giving, and caring people. Those are words that Ayn Rand never knew, and I’m sure that Dan will continue the tradition.
Further, Dan mentions Libertarians “pooling” their money for social improvements ~ schools, hospitals, bridges, roads, jails, full-time police, fire, and teachers, etc. ~ like someone who has never headed up a committee to get people to contribute money. I’d like to see how many people would be eager to kick in their fair share toward a bridge or a road that goes somewhere they don’t drive. Ha! Ha! You’re hallucinating more than Timothy Leary ever did, and you’re probably not even on drugs!
The BIG TALKERS are everywhere. We all know who they are. But, when it comes time to toss that contribution in the collection plate, you’ll find a whole lot of plate thumpers in the pews. I think Dan is one of those, too. Ask him how much he’ll contribute to drilling a well for someone else who can’t afford it. Zilch! Just as we thought, Harlan! Ha! Ha!
Master C
Posted By: daddysteve
Date: 2009-01-16 17:24:26
They deride you even while their system comes crashing down around their ears. Master C, I will enjoy hearing what you have to say in about a years time. I patiently wait...
Posted By: lpcowboy
Date: 2009-01-17 02:21:16
Over time, wells and septic systems are less expensive than shared water systems. That said, cities with private water tend to do a bit better than munipal-water cities.
Master C. government employees are only one group on the government teat and salaries are only one aspect. Defense and medicare contractors make exorbant amounts, and presidential pensions are well in the seven figures.
I don't hoard "help", but I don't see "help" coerced through taxation as just. Everyone has their own prblems, taxes just distribute wealth to those with more politcal power.
You seem to acknowledge makes sence for individuals to pool together for a bridge where they drive; building a bridge to nowhere doesn't appear to be a good idea.
Posted By: B. Smith
Date: 2009-01-17 09:42:58
Master C - A couple of comments.
- 1) If they need help they should ask for it. To reach into my pocket and take with out asking or to have someone use a gun to take from me on their behalf is theft. Thieves should be shot and hopefully killed.
- 2) I like beer, donuts and guns and willingly pay for them. If I am willing to pay that price, it is by definition a fair price.
- 3) There is NO fair share for me for a road or bridge on which I do not drive. It is false to say that there is. You want a road or a bridge then you and those that want it should pay for it. I should only pay for the roads and bridges that I drive on.
- 4) Just because someone objects to theft (even by taxation) does not make them ungenerous, it make them moral. Your willingness to steal from you fellow man makes you immoral.
- 5) Libertarians would contribute for those things that they individually felt were of a benefit to them. But you seem to feel that the only way to have these things paid for is to have someone put a gun to peoples heads and tell them to pay up or else they will be shot and killed. Voluntary agreements for mutual benefit never seem to cross your mind. And that says more about you than about the system of peaceful mutual cooperation for mutual profit.
Ok, so it was more than a couple. But your kind of stupidity should not be allowed to go uncorrected.