X-Message-Number: 17223
From: 
Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2001 05:28:17 -0400
Subject: Re: CryoNet #17216 (Anarchy and its Discontents)

 wrote:
CryoNet - Wed 8 Aug 2001

Message #17216
From: "Gary Tripp" 
Subject: anarchy is bad?
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 11:57:25 -0400


Why should anarchy necessarily be a bad thing? History is replete with examples 
that demonstrate the fact that central authority has, more often than not, been 
a most prolific source of evil. Witness the demise of communism and the rise of 
free market reforms throughout the world. These are good proxies for central 
authority vs. anarchy. Morally speaking, what group of individuals has the right
to tell
me how to conduct my own affairs as long as I don't encroach upon the
freedom of others.


==================

Comment:


It's not clear what you mean by "anarchy." If you mean a system with no 
large-scale cooperation of people in matters of law enforcement, protection of 
private property, and land defense, be advised that such a situation is 
unstable, power-balance wise. The logistics of attack and defence favor big 
armies and consortiums. That's how we got to here, and how little city-states 
become nations historically. They had to, for reasons that have basically do to 
with matters of economy of scale.


If by "anarchy" on the other hand you mean a place where there is no government 
with authority, you can have that by just changing your point of view. There is 
no "authority" unless you agree to it. If you don't agree, there's just a group 
of people with more guns than you, who make you pay tribute to them, and 
otherwise follow their rules. Call them what you may. Pretend they aren't the 
government. Does that help? But I hope you don't think that "anarchy" will free 
you of THAT situation. Anarchy is never the kind of anarchy you want, unless 
you're king and have all the weapons and resources. Which you probably won't.


So be happy. In one sense, anarchy is always here. You're living in it now. In 
another sense, somebody always makes the rules for people lacking the power, no 
matter what you call it, and that group of people is the defacto government. In 
that sense, anarchy is NEVER here.


Take your pick.  Try it. It's all in your mind, really.  Just imagine the US 
feds as bunch of thugs with nukes, and yourself in an anarchy of the type you 
don't like. Which is the only kind there is <g>.

SBH


SBH

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