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Post 40

Friday, August 18, 2006 - 9:26amSanction this postReply
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Jonathan this is a tiresome cliche and not really an argument. There are times when the ends do not justify the means and there are other times when the ends do justify the means. It depends on the context of the matter.
When do the ends justify the means? When do they not?
The governed give their consent to be governed.
That is a laughable cliche. When did government ever ask for our consent?
But the government doesn't always prevent this, and to the extent that it does prevent it, that prevention could have been offered by a private security firm, and more efficiently as well.


You're right Jonathan. A private militia or a lynch mob is certainly more efficient at using force than a just system of due process would.
If you want to put words in my mouth that I didn't say, go right ahead. But it's not a very convincing debating style.

It is well outlined in "Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal" which I would ask you give it a try first before settling on your position of anarchy.

I have settled on no position just yet, thanks.

So is government infallible? No. It can't be, nobody is. Is anarchy worse? Yes.
Just saying it doesn't make it so.

Kurt said:

And no, private security people cannot arrange for an objective justice system that would arrest and incarcarate such people and hold them accountable for their crimes.

Why?

But market competition, so appropriate for producing widgets, is not an appropriate mechanism for exercising coercion. Precisely to minimize and avoid vengeance, vindictiveness, and vendettas, and the disproportionate punishments to which they lead, a justice system must be based upon retribution, not revenge. And to enforce such distinctions, government is necessary: a constitutionally limited legal arbiter, operating under clear, objective laws, with the ultimate power to distinguish victims from victimizers, aggression from self-defense--and to enforce its verdicts against wrongdoers.

I'm not going to debate this aspect any further as I think the reality of this proves me right.

Ok, if the reality of a situation is all the argument you need, then you have to admit that the idea of limiting a constitution is a laughable at best. Constitutions are amened, and twisted to suit THE MAJORITY.

John. I am not prepared to declare my allegiance to either side here. But I take issue with alot of the things you are saying.

I am right when I say anarchists are not operating with a full deck here. Rick's post is just evidence of their insanity.
Keep up with the ad hominems and you won't gain any respect here.


 


Post 41

Friday, August 18, 2006 - 10:19amSanction this postReply
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Jonathan wrote:

When do the ends justify the means? When do they not?


Jonathan, it's a meaningless saying. If getting food is a means to my survival, then the ends justify the means. If killing someone to steal his food to maintain my survival, the ends do not justify the means. It depends on what the means and ends are.

That is a laughable cliche. When did government ever ask for our consent?


We give them consent through our vote. Because we have the power to change who govern us, it is within our rights to choose who govern us. But I would ask you don't belittle me. If you consider that a laughable cliche then that is simply your problem, not mine.

If you want to put words in my mouth that I didn't say, go right ahead. But it's not a very convincing debating style.


Jonathan, you are putting the words right into your own mouth. You said "But the government doesn't always prevent this, and to the extent that it does prevent it, that prevention could have been offered by a private security firm, and more efficiently as well." which is the very definition of a private milita, or a lynch mob. As Robert Bidinotto described, the free market is good at making widgets, not administering justice. Efficiency is not a character trait to justice. Justice is not a utilitarian concept. Efficient use of force where there is no monopoly government means anarchy. Hitler started off in his murderous career with a private militia in Germany. I'm sure you've heard of the Brown Shirts? They were tolerated, and they eventually took total control over Germany.

Just saying it doesn't make it so.


Jonathan, I do have respect for you and have thoroughly enjoyed reading many of your posts in the past on other subject matters. But that is completely disingenuous for you to say that and I am disappointed considering you are a very intelligent individual. I was giving a conclusion to an already reasoned argument. You took one snippet of of my post, a conclusion, and ignored all of my reasoning for it which I have given. I find that to be dishonest.

Ok, if the reality of a situation is all the argument you need, then you have to admit that the idea of limiting a constitution is a laughable at best. Constitutions are amened, and twisted to suit THE MAJORITY.


Jonathan, have you taken any courses on American government? I find it odd considering how our government is structured, that you would consider our republic majority rule. Our republic is set up so that no one has complete power. Not the majority, not the minority, not the President, not the congress, not the states, not the judicial branch. Do you know what it takes to get an amendment passed? It requires more than a simple majority. And I never asserted our constitution was perfect. Perhaps there should have been caveats to certain clauses of the constitution that could never be amended. Would that have helped? Perhaps. But to say that an idea of a limiting constitution is laughable? I haven't heard any Objectivist consider that to be laughable. Indeed I think considering the success of our country so far I would not denigrate the accomplishments of the founding fathers. Laughing at them is certainly not something that comes to my mind. I believe Rand herself said the founding fathers almost got it right. I keep referring back to Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal but that is her book on her political-philosophy and you ought to just give it a read rather than bother debating these points here without this knowledge first.

Keep up with the ad hominems and you won't gain any respect here.


It is not an ad hominem, it is simply insane to refute reality. I would call anarchists insane as I would call communists and fascists insane. I don't see the difference, all of these idealogies lead to the destruction of liberty. To deny reality is a symptom of delusion. What do you expect of me? That I should kowtow to anarchists and coddle them so that I may earn their respect? I don't want their respect! I just don't want them to start a private militia and destroy liberty. Since you have not settled on a position I certainly don't think you are insane. You have demonstrated that your willing to give this more thought but to anarchists that think this is a settled issue despite all the contrary evidence is nothing short of insanity.








(Edited by John Armaos
on 8/18, 10:22am)


Post 42

Friday, August 18, 2006 - 10:56amSanction this postReply
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Something that I realized Jonathan, the issue of taxation, how it should look like and whether there should be taxation I think is a finer detail to be discussed amongst objectivists. But before the topic of taxation can be discussed and debated, we would both have to come to an agreement that a monopoly government is necessary to administer justice. Until that is in agreement, I think it is fruitless to discuss the issue of taxation.

Post 43

Friday, August 18, 2006 - 2:28pmSanction this postReply
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Something that I realized Jonathan, the issue of taxation, how it should look like and whether there should be taxation I think is a finer detail to be discussed amongst objectivists. But before the topic of taxation can be discussed and debated, we would both have to come to an agreement that a monopoly government is necessary to administer justice. Until that is in agreement, I think it is fruitless to discuss the issue of taxation.
LOL, I was thinking the opposite. We should settle this taxation thing before discussing government (but I guess I'm just clinging to that old "ends don't justify the means" cliche). At any rate, at the moment, I don't think that I'm really able to devote the time that this discussion warrants (my internet use is limited to work, and wouldn't you know, I'm expected to work at work)! But I'm going to keep thinking about it, and I look forward to discussing it more.


Post 44

Friday, August 18, 2006 - 5:30pmSanction this postReply
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LOL, I was thinking the opposite. We should settle this taxation thing before discussing government
Really you think so? You regard taxation as a primary to government not a corollary? The question is first why do we need government, then I would think a following question would be how do we fund it. But if you don't believe in government then there is no issue of taxation.


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Post 45

Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 1:07amSanction this postReply
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Kurt/John,

I applaud your arguments for the justification of taxation. And it does come down to exactly the issue you named: Where government is limited to rights protection; police, courts and military, then taxation is justified. (Of course, redistributive programs are unjust.)

John wrote, “…an agreement that a monopoly government is necessary to administer justice. Until that is in agreement, I think it is fruitless to discuss the issue of taxation.” Exactly right. That is the context under which to discuss the issue. If monopoly government is recognized as necessary for the protection of rights, then each and every one of us has the right to and responsibility for the sustenance of government.

It is as though we are all at dinner and some refuse to contribute to the tab. They call it “force” and demand a right to opt out of contributing. But they don’t leave the table, either. They’re there with us night after night. In that context, it is they who are initiating force against us; forcing us to pay more than our share, to pay their share—of something they need and reliably show up to receive. And of course we can’t kick them out, because they have the right to stay—a right they demand be enforced by the cops we are paying for!


Post 46

Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 2:09pmSanction this postReply
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Regarding the ends justifying the means: Sometimes they do. Regarding the legitimacy of initiating force: Sometimes it is legitimate. Objectivism advocates both in at least one important case: the rationale for government.

As a moral issue, man has the right to respond to initiations of force with force. Under Objectivist government however, man is forced to relinquish that right. A man may not apply unilateral force in response to initiations against him, but must submit to the police and courts who deal with the violator through due process of law.* If the victim dislikes the leniency extended to the violator and knocks on his door and gives him what he actually deserves—then he goes to prison. Thus the perfectly moral right of retaliation is taken from man by the government. That is an initiation of force against each of us—we are threatened with force to never engage in that otherwise perfectly moral right.

Why did Rand advocate and justify such relinquishment? Because the end (government that protects all the other rights) justifies the means (stripping us of our right to retaliate.)

*With exceptions for immediate bodily threat where the police will have no opportunity to protect.


Post 47

Monday, August 21, 2006 - 4:51amSanction this postReply
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Really you think so? You regard taxation as a primary to government not a corollary? The question is first why do we need government, then I would think a following question would be how do we fund it. But if you don't believe in government then there is no issue of taxation.
Alot of Objectivists, it seems, advocate voluntary government funding. So I don't have a problem with that type of "government" I just think that it is really market anarchism at work.
Where government is limited to rights protection...
Every right except the right to property, right?
As a moral issue, man has the right to respond to initiations of force with force. Under Objectivist government however, man is forced to relinquish that right. A man may not apply unilateral force in response to initiations against him, but must submit to the police and courts who deal with the violator through due process of law.* If the victim dislikes the leniency extended to the violator and knocks on his door and gives him what he actually deserves—then he goes to prison. Thus the perfectly moral right of retaliation is taken from man by the government. That is an initiation of force against each of us—we are threatened with force to never engage in that otherwise perfectly moral right.
Jon, all the examples you gave of initiating force, were actually examples of retaliatory force.
Why did Rand advocate and justify such relinquishment? Because the end (government that protects all the other rights) justifies the means (stripping us of our right to retaliate.)
What if, in order the secure our liberties in the future, government decides to strip some of them now? Would you advocate that? (Think Patriot Act) If the ends justify the means, then suspending Habeus Corpus, the 1st amendment, the 4th amendment are all acceptable.


Post 48

Monday, August 21, 2006 - 9:18amSanction this postReply
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Hi Jonathan,

You write, “Jon, all the examples you gave of initiating force, were actually examples of retaliatory force.”

I think you misunderstand me. I am saying that the government initiates force against us at the outset, by forbidding—under threat of imprisonment—the use private retaliation.

Some Objectivists will object to this formulation saying that we still get protection via retaliation; it’s just that the retaliation is under due process. It’s still a rights infringement, though. If the government was providing everyone with shoes and their private manufacture was prohibited under threat of imprisonment, would they really argue that there is no rights infringement, since we are, after all, getting shoes?


Post 49

Monday, August 21, 2006 - 9:55amSanction this postReply
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Jonathan wrote:

Alot of Objectivists, it seems, advocate voluntary government funding. So I don't have a problem with that type of "government" I just think that it is really market anarchism at work.


How could it be market anarchism if there is only one government that has a monopoly on the use of force? It can't be market anarchism because under a system of a monopoly government we are forbidding anyone under the same geographical area to impose their own force and their own set of laws that could compete with others. In other words, under a monopoly government we do not allow for competing militias so how could you call it market anarchism?
(Edited by John Armaos
on 8/21, 9:57am)


Post 50

Monday, August 21, 2006 - 10:00amSanction this postReply
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How could it be market anarchism if there is only one government that has a monopoly on the use of force? It can't be market anarchism because under a system of a monopoly government we are forbidding anyone under the same geographical area to impose their own force and their own set of laws that could compete with others. In other words, under a monopoly government we do not allow for competing militias so how could you call it market anarchism?
Since they cannot force people to contribute, if people were unhappy, some other organization that better served their need would come into being, and they would voluntarily fund that one instead.



Post 51

Monday, August 21, 2006 - 12:21pmSanction this postReply
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Jonathan wrote:

Since they cannot force people to contribute, if people were unhappy, some other organization that better served their need would come into being, and they would voluntarily fund that one instead.


Jonathan I thought we already went over this? So you're saying you would be happy with competing militias?



Post 52

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 4:54amSanction this postReply
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So you're saying you would be happy with competing militias?

You act as if competing militias are automatically bad. That's not true. They could be, or they could not be. Just as if two restaraunts exist, its not automtically true that one of them will serve poison. The question is, why do you believe that a government with "checks and balances" would do a better job of protecting rights (although not the right to property assuming you believe in taxation), than free-market competition would? Whether you believe in free-market anarchism or a constitutionally limited minarchy, both are contingent on the overwhelming majority of the population acting rationally. An anarcho-capitalist society that embraced the doctrine of individual rights would work at least as well as a minarchist state that did the same. For me, arguing about whether a government that is constitutionally limited to the protection of individual rights is better than a market system, is like arguing whether unicorns are faster than horses. Such a government has never existed, and I see no evidence that it ever can. Politicians pass the laws they want to, based on what will get them the most votes, and judges interpret the laws according to their own personal beliefs. Constitutions can be amended.

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Post 53

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 7:13amSanction this postReply
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Jonathan wrote:

You act as if competing militias are automatically bad. That's not true. They could be, or they could not be. Just as if two restaraunts exist, its not automtically true that one of them will serve poison.


You're comparing serving food with serving force? You know what Jonathan, we've seen what competing militias do around the world. Open up a newspaper, it's not a pretty sight.

The question is, why do you believe that a government with "checks and balances" would do a better job of protecting rights (although not the right to property assuming you believe in taxation)


Taxation for the purpose of protecting your right to property is not itself a violation of that right if it serves the purpose of protecting your rights. Rights cannot be taken to their extreme application to the detriment of other individuals. For example your right to free speech doesn't include coercive speech, libel, slander, or child pornography. Nor does your right to property mean you have a right to be free of taxes and pay for your own militia, to use coercive force against others because how you want to apply force.


An anarcho-capitalist society that embraced the doctrine of individual rights would work at least as well as a minarchist state that did the same.


I disagree, and I've already explained why. You can accept or reject it and I see you've decided to reject it.

For me, arguing about whether a government that is constitutionally limited to the protection of individual rights is better than a market system, is like arguing whether unicorns are faster than horses.


????

Such a government has never existed


Yes it has. Anarchy has existed and still does in many parts of the world. And the results were disastrous. As a matter of fact as Bidinotto points out, it was actually market demand that a monopoly government be put in place.

Politicians pass the laws they want to, based on what will get them the most votes, and judges interpret the laws according to their own personal beliefs.


This seems like an equivocal statement to me. If the judge believes in individual rights, (which most do, to say otherwise is just cynicism) then why is it a bad thing they interpret them to their own beliefs?

Ok Jonathan I'm going to put you on the offensive and shift this argument to you. Justify to me market anarchism. Tell me what would happen if two individuals get into a dispute, and have each contracted different police agencies? How do you propose this dispute be resolved?

Let's use some specifics. You and I are neighbors. You decide you want to build a tool shed that's very close to my property. You also keep very corrosive chemicals in the tool shed. I have a garden on my property quite close to the location of your tool shed on your property. My garden plants start dying. I accuse you of killing my garden because of your tool shed and the chemicals you store in there are seeping into the ground and into my proporty. Thus killing anything that grows on mine. Problem is, you have ACME Police and Courts as your protection firm. I have a different agency that I have hired.

Or what do you do with rapists or criminals that have little money? Who goes after them and with what money? Who incarcerates them? And for how long? And who decideds? And if what the victim nor the assailant has sufficient funds for an investigation, prosecution, and incarceration? Where's the profit in fighting crime?



(Edited by John Armaos
on 8/22, 7:23am)


Post 54

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 9:59amSanction this postReply
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You're comparing serving food with serving force?
Yes. Why can't I?
You know what Jonathan, we've seen what competing militias do around the world.
In what context? A rational society that upholds individual rights? I think not:
Whether you believe in free-market anarchism or a constitutionally limited minarchy, both are contingent on the overwhelming majority of the population acting rationally. An anarcho-capitalist society that embraced the doctrine of individual rights would work at least as well as a minarchist state that did the same.
Open up a newspaper, it's not a pretty sight.
And the state of our constitutional republic is? I can't argue against an unnamed anarchist society, can you be more specific?
Taxation for the purpose of protecting your right to property is not itself a violation of that right if it serves the purpose of protecting your rights.
I disagree. Let me see if I understand you.

 If something ultimately leads to the protection of a right, then it is OK to violate that right. Now let's apply it.

If revoking the 4th amendment will help the police catch more criminals and terrorists and therefore preserve our government which guarantees us to be free from unreasonable search and seizure, then it is OK to violate our 4th amendment right to privacy.

If this is what you are saying, then we just have a fundamental disagreement. Rights that only apply sometimes are useless.
Rights cannot be taken to their extreme application to the detriment of other individuals.
Yes, by definition. There is no such thing as a right to violate someone's rights (that is why the notion of a right to confiscate someones property in order to protect his property is so absurd).
For me, arguing about whether a government that is constitutionally limited to the protection of individual rights is better than a market system, is like arguing whether unicorns are faster than horses.


????
The idea is John, that a constitutionally limited government is a myth. It's never existed, and it never will. So arguing about the benefits of such a government are like arguing about the healing powers of a unicorns horn.
Yes it has. Anarchy has existed and still does in many parts of the world. And the results were disastrous.
Monopoly government has existed and still does in many parts of the world. And the results were disastrous.
If the judge believes in individual rights, (which most do, to say otherwise is just cynicism) then why is it a bad thing they interpret them to their own beliefs?
What does it mean for a judge to "believe" in individual rights? Does it mean not being a totalitarian? Then yes, our judges believe in individual rights. But if it means placing the rights of the individual above the "rights" of the collective, then sadly not all judges believe in individual rights.

Or what do you do with rapists or criminals that have little money?
I think that question is insinuating that rapist or criminals should only be made to pay restitution, and not be incarcerated. If that's the case I don't agree, and never said anything to that effect.
Who goes after them and with what money? Who incarcerates them? And for how long? And who decideds?
A legitimate part of protection would be removing those who have proven to be a threat.
And if what the victim nor the assailant has sufficient funds for an investigation, prosecution, and incarceration?
That certainly begs the question: Do the poor receive fair and just representation in our current legal system?

Have you ever argued with someone for privatization of education (or the abolition of social security, medicare, etc.)? If you have, they invariably say, well what about the poor kid from a bad home who can't afford an education? Doesn't he get a chance? I think you see where I'm going with this.

BTW, I didn't gloss over your tool shed question, I'm going to mull it over.


Just ask yourself this: How and why do governments get formed?
it was actually market demand that a monopoly government be put in place.
So governments are formed based on what the market demands, ie what the majority wants? You can't blame them for not considering no government as the best way to achieve their results, but assuming what they were after is the protection of individual rights, their demands could have been met by the private sector.

If what the public demanded were some kind of phony rights, like Communist governments were intended to secure, then market-anarchism would have dire results, just like commmunist monopoly governments have and did. Monopoly governments are not always good, and market-anarchism would not always be bad. It all depends on the philosophical climate. For me the issue of taxation is still at the forefront of why I have been leaning towards anarchism, but I haven't closed my mind yet.

 


Post 55

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 10:58amSanction this postReply
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And the state of our constitutional republic is? I can't argue against an unnamed anarchist society, can you be more specific?


I provided several examples in post 12. Which is leading me to believe you are not paying full attention to the content of my posts. How many more specific examples would you like and how many times should I mention them?

If this is what you are saying, then we just have a fundamental disagreement. Rights that only apply sometimes are useless.


I think I gave a clear objective scenario to when and where rights apply to. They cannot apply to the detriment of others. In saying this, then foregoing a government to protect those rights that are to be funded through taxation, is foregoing all of our rights. If they cannot be reasonably protected then they cannot have any meaning.

The idea is John, that a constitutionally limited government is a myth.


That statement is just so absurd considering the objective reality that a constitutionally limited government has worked quite well all over the world in western democracies. I don't even know how else to respond to this kind of rejection of reality.

Monopoly government has existed and still does in many parts of the world. And the results were disastrous.


Of course. The difference here though is that any kind of anarchism is disastrous because it ignores the very important concept that a successful government can only be successful or have the potential to be successful if it has a monopoly on the use of force.

I think that question is insinuating that rapist or criminals should only be made to pay restitution, and not be incarcerated. If that's the case I don't agree, and never said anything to that effect.


Well that's interesting that you say that. Many anarcho-capitalists think incarceration is a waste of money and suggest outlandish programs of training criminals and making them work for a company. So who funds their incarceration? And who decides on a fair punishment to fit the crime? And who presides over the criminal's trial? Is there a presumption of innocence? And who pays for that?

That certainly begs the question: Do the poor receive fair and just representation in our current legal system?


To any reasonable extent possible they sure as hell do! If a poor person is a victim of attack you are insinuating the police and courts do nothing to step in and protect their rights? Are you kidding me? I find that so incredulous it boggles my mind you would say that. This occurs everyday in our system of justice. But in the system you propose, the poor will have no recourse of action. If they can't afford a police agency to come protect them from a violent attacker, then that's too bad according to market anarchism. This is where I come off saying anarchism is morally repugnant and disgusting idealogy. That justice is a utilitarian concept, that the highest bidder, or more accurately the one with the biggest army, is afforded protection. If you are a victim of rape but can't afford to hire a police agency, you are SOL, this is the most disgusting aspect of anarchim. It presumes the rich may violate rights as much as they please so long as they do it to someone with no guns or no money. How repulsive. I don't know how else to characterize this other than evil.

Have you ever argued with someone for privatization of education (or the abolition of social security, medicare, etc.)? If you have, they invariably say, well what about the poor kid from a bad home who can't afford an education? Doesn't he get a chance? I think you see where I'm going with this.


No I don't Jonathan. Since no one has a right to education, but EVERYONE has a right to justice. Regardless of income.

I didn't gloss over your tool shed question, I'm going to mull it over.


Please do so. Perhaps then my posts will not have been in vain.





Post 56

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 11:23amSanction this postReply
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If the judge believes in individual rights, (which most do, to say otherwise is just cynicism)

or realism.......


Post 57

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 11:33amSanction this postReply
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No, it's cynicism...to think a majority of our judges do not in essence believe in individual rights is nothing but meaningless cynicism.



Post 58

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 2:07pmSanction this postReply
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I can't argue against an unnamed anarchist society, can you be more specific?


I provided several examples in post 12. Which is leading me to believe you are not paying full attention to the content of my posts. How many more specific examples would you like and how many times should I mention them?



Well it was all the way back in post 12. Quick! What argument did I make in post 15!?!?

 

In post 12, you said:

 

And we don't have to look far for examples of anarchism in reality and see what it has produced. The less law and order a society has, the less peaceful it is. The less that people's rights are protected.

 

So the more government we have, the better? I know you can’t believe that. Why can’t there be law and order and rights protection with market anarchism?

 

 

Somalia, to a lesser extent Russia, even Lebanon is in a state of anarchy, two competing governments with their own army in the same geographical areas has produced misery for the Lebanese. So is Iraq, which is a nation of competing militias, even take the wild west of America's past history where much of the United States had a break down of law and order, where crime was settled by a lynch mob and vigilantes, not by any objective standards of justice.

 

Well, I’m certainly glad you brought up this post again. I don’t know much about Somalia. But it’s interesting that all the others mentioned in fact have monopoly governments. The point that I have been making, is that MONOPOLY GOVERNMENTS which you seem to think are the cure-all for everything, are susceptible to the same problems as market-anarchism. BOTH SYSTEMS are dependent on the majority of the citizens acting rationally. Iraq’s constitution isn’t stopping the chaos. Similarly, a lack of one in a rational society wouldn’t cause descent into chaos.




The idea is John, that a constitutionally limited government is a myth.



That statement is just so absurd considering the objective reality that a constitutionally limited government has worked quite well all over the world in western democracies. I don't even know how else to respond to this kind of rejection of reality.



So you are denying that constitutions can’t prevent politicians from doing what they want? That is absurd. Look at anything from slavery, civil rights, Kelo vs. New London, all sorts of unconstitutional programs such as Social Security, etc. Need I go on? So who is really rejecting reality?

 

Of course. The difference here though is that any kind of anarchism is disastrous because it ignores the very important concept that a successful government can only be successful or have the potential to be successful if it has a monopoly on the use of force.

Communist governments have a monopoly on the use of force. Does that make them successful? I think not. The most important thing is not a monopoly on the use of force, but respect for individual rights.

Well that's interesting that you say that. Many anarcho-capitalists think incarceration is a waste of money and suggest outlandish programs of training criminals and making them work for a company.

If this conversation is going to meaningful, you can’t assume that I endorse something I never even mentioned. What most anarcho-capitalists think is irrelevant to my thoughts and views.

To any reasonable extent possible they sure as hell do! If a poor person is a victim of attack you are insinuating the police and courts do nothing to step in and protect their rights? Are you kidding me? I find that so incredulous it boggles my mind you would say that. This occurs everyday in our system of justice.

There was a case here in which two teenage girls went missing at about the same time. One was a white girl from an affluent area. The other black from a poor area. Hordes of cops searched day and night for the white girl. They didn’t for the black girl. If someone in my neighborhood were murdered, rest assured there would be 100 cops on the case until it was solved. Not so in the inner city. And then of course you have the imbalance of legal representation afforded to the poor and the rich in our legal system. Keep on thinking that everything is fair and just, and objective justice is always served.

Have you ever argued with someone for privatization of education (or the abolition of social security, medicare, etc.)? If you have, they invariably say, well what about the poor kid from a bad home who can't afford an education? Doesn't he get a chance? I think you see where I'm going with this.




No I don't Jonathan. Since no one has a right to education, but EVERYONE has a right to justice. Regardless of income.



I thought you would follow me. What’s the difference between the two? Well, a “right” to education, like a “right” to healthcare, requires somebody else to provide it for you, right? Ok, so everybody has a right to justice. Provided by whom and at whose expense? Saying everybody has a right to justice is all well and good, and I agree with you, but in order to secure those rights, someone else’s labor is required. So does one man have the right to another man’s life? Would you favor a law that says if you see a mugging in process, you must intervene? Why not? If everyone has a right to justice, then surely it is right to force someone to ensure that justice is served, after all, violating rights is ok as long as your doing it to secure rights, isn’t that what you said? So what would happen to the poor if security were privatized? The same thing that would happen to them if education and healthcare and housing etc. were privatized.


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Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 4:31pmSanction this postReply
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Jonathan wrote:

So the more government we have, the better? I know you can’t believe that. Why can’t there be law and order and rights protection with market anarchism?


Why do you keep asking the same question and insist on ignoring my answer? You can't have rights protection in market anarchism because without a final arbiter for disputes you have a system that devolves into gang warfare. I even gave you a hypothetical, rooted in reality, the example I gave where two neighbors have a dispute over property with two different militias working for them, you said you'd mull it over and I'm still waiting for your market anarchist solution.

You have a system that promotes vindictiveness and revenge. It is a system that rewards those that have the biggest guns and the most resources and devolves right back into a monopoly government anyways but of the worst kind. The totalitarian kind. The Fascist kind. It doesn't guarantee protection for the weak. How many times would you like me to repeat myself? Ask me the same question over and over again and I'm just going to repeat the same answer.

Well, I’m certainly glad you brought up this post again. I don’t know much about Somalia. But it’s interesting that all the others mentioned in fact have monopoly governments. The point that I have been making, is that MONOPOLY GOVERNMENTS which you seem to think are the cure-all for everything, are susceptible to the same problems as market-anarchism. BOTH SYSTEMS are dependent on the majority of the citizens acting rationally. Iraq’s constitution isn’t stopping the chaos. Similarly, a lack of one in a rational society wouldn’t cause descent into chaos.


My examples point out degrees of anarchism. Lebanon does not have a monopoly government. It has two competing governments. All of those examples you have two or more militias operating in the same geographical area. And it is nothing more than gang warfare. Somalia has no state. It is in total anarchy and it's not helping them. Lebanon is in a state of anarchy. Hezbollah is a tolerated private militia, launching attacks on Israel and holding the nation of Lebanon as hostages. These are real world examples of anarchism at work. And since under anarchism you are only responsible for your criminal actions if your victim has enough money or guns, so long as your victim is poor, helpless, and disarmed, you can do whatever you please. It is simply disgusting and immoral. I can see market anarchism now, a whole police agency for and operated by child molestors. Who's to stop them? By what right does any other police agency have to initiate force against this agency? Hitler had his own private militia, and the democracy of Germany at the time tolerated it. He eventually held the entire nation hostage with his mafia extortion tactics and people were powerless to stop him. If you allow thugs, the right to form their own police, to use their own force, you allow for the complete annihilation of liberty. We've seen it happen all too often. And I'm not going to sit here and listen to people sugar coat the damn thing by calling it "anarcho-capitalism" or "market-anarchism" it is simply anarchism. There's nothing Capitalistic about it. It is lawlessness. And even rational people do not ALL AGREE on what due process should look like. That's why we have one government to keep the peace. That's why we resolve our differences on what due process should look like by settling on a peaceful democratic vote for a constitutionally limited government to decide on one due process that we all follow. To have on objective system of due process. To stop otherwise rational men from resorting to violence to settle their disputes. To insure the weak and the poor have access to justice as well as the rich. It's not a hallow term when we say WE ARE ALL EQUAL UNDER THE LAW. There's a damn good reason for saying that. Justice must be objectively applied for it to be just. It must be administered without regard to personal income, race, gender, ethnicity or social status.

So you are denying that constitutions can’t prevent politicians from doing what they want? That is absurd. Look at anything from slavery, civil rights, Kelo vs. New London, all sorts of unconstitutional programs such as Social Security, etc. Need I go on? So who is really rejecting reality?


This is pointless. If you can't see the essentials here, that politicians do not have limitless power, then there is no point debating this with you. Politicians do not do whatever they want. Countless laws have been struck down by the judiciary. Slavery was defeated. We have more civil rights now then we ever had. Things like Kelo vs New London are not the norm. Freedoms in this country historically have followed an ebb and flow pattern. You are resorting to the same tiresome zero-sum fallacy. And you know what? It's the SAME ARGUMENT that communists give against Capitalism? Communists argue Capitalism lead to the annihilation of Native Americans, it creates homeless, it has lead to unnecessary wars and imperial lust for more land. Do we take these communist arguments seriously? No because rarely if ever is life a zero-sum proposition. We have had problems but they are not the reason to annihilate the institutions we have. They are good arguments to change them. To amend them. To educate our fellow citizens on what individualism should look like. But pointing out anectodal failures is not a reasoned argument to bring everything down to zero.

Communist governments have a monopoly on the use of force. Does that make them successful? I think not. The most important thing is not a monopoly on the use of force, but respect for individual rights.


Your communist argument is lacking. I never said all monopolies of government are good and this is nothing more than a strawman. Some are good, some are bad. All anarchism is bad.

If this conversation is going to meaningful, you can’t assume that I endorse something I never even mentioned. What most anarcho-capitalists think is irrelevant to my thoughts and views.


Then let's hear them!!! I gave you an example of a dispute with multiple police agencies and you said you'd mull it over. So are you done mulling it over? What is your view? How would you implement it? And if you haven't thought a scenario like that through why do you repeat the same religious mantra that market anarchism works? How do you know it works when you haven't even worked out the essentials!

There was a case here in which two teenage girls went missing at about the same time. One was a white girl from an affluent area. The other black from a poor area. Hordes of cops searched day and night for the white girl. They didn’t for the black girl. If someone in my neighborhood were murdered, rest assured there would be 100 cops on the case until it was solved. Not so in the inner city. And then of course you have the imbalance of legal representation afforded to the poor and the rich in our legal system. Keep on thinking that everything is fair and just, and objective justice is always served.


Wow, did I not say at least a dozen times now justice is not always served? Did I not already address the zero-sum fallacy? Anecdotal stories do not paint a picture of how our justice system operates. It's pure cynicism. You have to break this down into essentials. Is justice most of the time served for the poor? I think yes. Are there aberrations? Of course! There always are! To think otherwise means we live in this delusion that there exists this utopia. It doesn't. And your example is actually a perfect example of what it would be like under market anarchism! Except it would be the norm, and not an aberration.

I thought you would follow me. What’s the difference between the two? Well, a “right” to education, like a “right” to healthcare, requires somebody else to provide it for you, right? Ok,


No Jonathan it's not ok. You keep bringing up the socialist arguments for redistributing wealth and creating rights that do not exist as if that's the same argument I am providing. When they argue these rights, they are arguing for something that is not a right. When I argue for justice and due process, it is a right. And I'm not going to go for that strawman. Not gonna work.



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