The state fails to do even the things that its supporters claim it should do: the protection of our rights. Take a look at this story or this one or this one –these abominations represent the complete collapse of the concepts of “justice” and “defense” and “protection.” In true Orwellian fashion, justice now means plunder, defense means offense and protection means aggression.
To the radical libertarian, the above headlines are, while shocking, not really surprising. What does surprise is that many of those who claim to favor liberty still stop short of fully accepting the conclusion of their own premises: that government is inefficient and operates via aggressive means. If we claim that the state should not be engaged in education because the result is monstrous, why not, then, apply the same reasoning to other functions that the state performs, such as defense and protection and law and courts? We oppose state education, state entertainment and every other state industry but when it comes to police and justice and law, many –too many– give their consent and support!It seems to me that the classical libertarians (such as minarchists and constitutionalists) have made a terrible mistake. They have taken the most important of institutions, namely the protection of our rights, and given them to the monopolist. I believe that, if it were possible, it would be preferable to have the government take care of things like entertainment and toilets instead of the “slightly” more important functions of defense and law.
Ultimately, the state cannot be reformed and the political system can only do so much. Indeed, nothing short of the abolition of statist politics –of the state itself– is acceptable to the radical libertarian. If the government isn’t fit to be my janitor or educator, it is not fit to be my police, my judge, my jury, president, prosecutor or legislator.
Says Thoreau: That government is best which governs not at all; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.
The freedom revolution begins with one’s consent. Withdraw it. It’s time.
1:38 pm on August 1, 2008
