—–Original Message—–
From: SG
Sent: Sat 11/19/2016 7:44 AM
To: Walter Block
Subject: Murder, Inc., An Austro-libertarian analysis
Walter: I’m not sure I agree with your blanket statement “You might be interested in an entirely different question: what is the libertarian position on markets like this? My answer is, it all depends upon who the hired killers are going to murder. If they are going to assassinate bad guys like Hitler or Stalin, the libertarian would applaud.” https://www.lewrockwell.com/lrc-blog/murder-inc-austro-libertarian-analysis/
I think the libertarian answer depends on who hires the killers, not just who the killers’ targets are. In a libertarian world only those who have physically suffered at the hands of Hitler, or who are imminently physically threatened by him, would have the right to take action against Hitler either personally or to hire others to do this on their behalf. As bad as Hitler may be, if he has left me alone then I wouldn’t have the right to hire a killer to take him out. SG
Dear SG: You and I have a very different viewpoint as to the proper libertarian answer to this question. A murders or rapes or kidnaps B. C is a cop; a private one, of course. We are now in the libertarian society. C starts to use violence against A (C punishes A; C grabs up A and puts him in jail, whatever). A objects to C. A says to C: “Hey, I never initiated force against YOU, C; I only did so with regard to B. Therefore, you, C, have no right to place handcuffs on me, bring me to the court. You must cease and desist your efforts to protect B from my depredations, punish me for them.”
As I say, SG, You and I have a very different viewpoint as to the proper interpretation of libertarianism. Please forgive me for believing that yours is erroneous. You believe, only, in self defense. I support that, of course. Where we part company is that I maintain that other defense is also justified, you do not.
9:31 am on November 19, 2016 Email Walter E. Block
