Difference between revisions of "Libertarians Misunderstand Government"

Libertarians are generally guilty of misrepresenting government. First, they discuss government as if it is monolithic, but it is not. Modern government is dispersed in two ways: by separation of powers among three branches and by division of responsibilities among federal, state, local, and non-government authorities. Second, libertarians represent government as a source of coercion, but it is not. Government is where we delibertarely channel coercion because the alternative (the private sector) gives much worse results, as the history of privately owned states (monarchies, dictatorships, and other despotisms) and private "law" such as slavery, mafias, warlords, etc. show rather clearly. We have constructed a government that is jointly owned by all, because private ownership gives too much incentive for profit through coercion of others.