Difference between revisions of "Libertarians Misunderstand Government"
From Critiques Of Libertarianism
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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. Coercion is an inherent ability of people that cannot be eliminated and is pervasive through almost all social interaction. Government is where we deliberately 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 private profit through coercion of others. | 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. Coercion is an inherent ability of people that cannot be eliminated and is pervasive through almost all social interaction. Government is where we deliberately 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 private profit through coercion of others. | ||
| + | Government is NOT a monopoly of violence/coercion: it is a monopoly on determining legitimacy of them. Big difference. Because in the US and most other nations, private violence is often permitted for defense and protection of property and other rights. | ||
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(Currently, this is simply a hodgepodge of misc points to be rewritten.) | (Currently, this is simply a hodgepodge of misc points to be rewritten.) | ||
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http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism/iron_fist.html | http://flag.blackened.net/daver/anarchism/iron_fist.html | ||
As a mutualist anarchist, I believe that expropriation of surplus value--i.e., capitalism--cannot occur without state coercion to maintain the privilege of usurer, landlord, and capitalist. | As a mutualist anarchist, I believe that expropriation of surplus value--i.e., capitalism--cannot occur without state coercion to maintain the privilege of usurer, landlord, and capitalist. | ||
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| + | "The only thing that makes a government special is its monopoly on legitimate violence." | ||
| + | Government is not a monopoly of legitimate violence (force) in the US: there are federal, state, county, and local governments, all of which can use force. They all have their own laws and police, and many have their own courts. Individuals are also allowed many sorts of legitimate violence in defense of person and property, as any gunloon can tell you. Indeed, the US was set up that way precisely to avoid problems of monopoly. | ||
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