As a Radical Rothbardian for over forty years, I fully concur with Murray’s classic argument for privatizing the police posted on LRC today. But here is another interesting article to consider when reflecting upon the subject of transitioning from the present government police monopoly to a free market in security, arbitration, and restitution services — A Practical Solution: Run Police Departments Like Fire Departments. It is a refreshing new way to look at this question of policing and puts forth what may be a viable interim measure before outright privatization. The surprising thing is that the article appeared at HuffPo, of all places.
7:53 am on July 12, 2016 Email Charles BurrisDo you lie awake at night in constant fear a fire will break out and nothing will be done to put it out?
For the 99% of the population not suffering from pyrophobia or a similar neurosis, the answer to that question is “no,” even though firefighters aren’t patrolling the streets in their big red trucks. They still manage to arrive at the scene of a fire within minutes of an emergency call.
Why can’t police departments be run the same way?
