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

To: weikel
"unconstitutional"( absolute) monarchy( which in practice tends to be the most libertarian form of government).

That is a foolish myth spread by Hoppe and other Rockwellites. You could certainly make a case that there was greater liberty and smaller government before the French Revolution than after it. Or that it was easier to evade rulers in pre-modern societies.

But the oriental despotisms of the world prove beyond question that absolute monarchy is far from "the most libertarian form of government." Or, if it is, that says very little for libertarianism.

And while feudalism allowed much freedom from the state and its ruler, it subordinated individuals to other lords to a great extent. Those who take this view ignore what it would have been like to have been bound to the land, and exaggerate the difference between taxes and feudal dues.

40 posted on 01/10/2003 1:38:25 PM PST by x
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies ]


To: x
Look at Western Europe between the time of the 30 year's war and WWI. The Middle East has never really had any nice government of any variety either before or after Islam. It should be noted the best run Arab states are the monarchies of Jordan and Bahrain( Saudi Arabia is a monarchy in name only its a government by clan associated with theocrats).
41 posted on 01/10/2003 1:43:57 PM PST by weikel (Raistlin Majere Master of the Tower of Palanthas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | 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