Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Ridin' Shotgun
How would anarchy better deal with individuals who couldn't/wouldn't govern themselves?

This is the right question, not the one about unidentified bodies in a dumpster, which, as I pointed out, are more likely to show up where there is public property.

The answer to this is two-fold. First to understand how much government contributes to the existence of individuals couldn't/wouldn't govern themselves. Secondly to understand the mechanisms which the natural order uses to impose self-governance.

WRT the first. Not only is government the single greatest criminal which exists, stealing and murdering far more people than any smaller gang, it also is the ultimate source of most private crime as well. The vast majority of crime comes directly from the government welfare system attacking fatherhood and the family, the government's war on drugs and the crime schools called prisons.

As to the question of how the natural order keeps people in line, the prime mechanism is through ostracism. Why do you pay your debts? Not (primarily) because of the threat of court action but rather because people will cease to deal with you if you welch. If you're behind on your credit cards, eventually you pay up. And life goes on. No expensive lawyers and prisons. Etc. Simply quiet resolution of the problem.

The same mechanism can be used for other things as well. Ostracism is a powerful way to keep people in line. It works. And the ultimate form of ostracism, for those who simply refuse to follow the rules of good behaviour, is banishment.

In the modern world, any one who is banished better hope he can find some other community to take him in. Otherwise, he is going to be awfully hungry.

106 posted on 01/14/2002 12:52:36 PM PST by Architect
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies ]


To: Architect
the prime mechanism is through ostracism

Only works in a society where people know each other well enough. A small frontier community might be able to ostracize someone, but not a modern city.

My co-workers don't know what I do outside work. The grocer, gas station attendant, haircutter, etc. don't know if I've done anything objectionable, and if one does the others don't. If groceries aren't paid for, the haircutter won't know. If I pay for my groceries with mugging money, the grocer doesn't know. If I'm ostracized from a given location, I need only walk a few blocks to become anonymous again. I work in a city of a million people; on the whole, they won't ostracize me...or you...or anyone else. My daily activities are spread across a 900 square mile region. Money talks; otherwise, I'm an anonymous face.

We're not in a frontier community of a few hundred people who really rely on each other. We're in a rapid-commute, mega-city, suburb-enhanced culture. If you're not welcome somewhere, just drive another minute or take a different bus...they won't know you and your cash talks.

Ostracism was once practically equal to death. Today, it means practically nothing.

115 posted on 01/14/2002 1:10:41 PM PST by ctdonath2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies ]

To: Architect
It appears that you've spent some quality time with this subject. Thank you for that very reasoned response. Have you given any thought to how we might reclaim the trillions of acres of land that government has confiscated? I can only see anarchism working if people had access to the land and weren't crammed into high rises in the cities and employed in produce-nothing, paper-shuffling jobs. We'd almost have to go back to an agri/industrial economy (good plan anyway, IMO), wouldn't we?
116 posted on 01/14/2002 2:12:28 PM PST by Ridin' Shotgun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson