The State’s Priority Is Protecting Itself, Not You

The Libertarian Institute ^ | 06/03/2020 | Bradley Thomas

[Mr. Jeeves]

Murray Rothbard pointed out in his book Anatomy of the State how the state is far more punitive against those that threaten the comfort and authority of government institutions and workers than they are against crimes against citizens.

This, according to Rothbard, exposed as a myth the notion that the state exists to protect its citizens.

“We may test the hypothesis that the State is largely interested in protecting itself rather than its subjects by asking: which category of crimes does the State pursue and punish most intensely—those against private citizens or those against itself?” Rothbard wrote.

“The gravest crimes in the State’s lexicon are almost invariably not invasions of private person or property, but dangers to its own contentment, for example, treason, desertion of a soldier to the enemy, failure to register for the draft, subversion and subversive conspiracy, assassination of rulers and such economic crimes against the State as counterfeiting its money or evasion of its income tax.”

Boy how recent events have proven Rothbard right.

For weeks, we saw police aggressively pursuing and punishing peaceful people merely violating arbitrary lockdown orders to go surfing, cut hair, or host a child’s play date.

But in the first nights of the George Floyd protests, police allowed rioters to run amok destroying property, with political leaders dismissing the damage as unimportant.

This stark contrast in police responses dramatically underscores Rothbard’s point.

[Mr. Jeeves]

The actions of the police became clear to me after reading Rothbard's observations. So here we are. Perhaps mayors and governors need to be reminded of the potential harm to their tax revenue streams if they continue to indulge the radical Left?

[Brian Griffin]

Amendment XIV was passed after blacks were attacked in New Orleans and Memphis after the Civil War and Louisiana and Tennessee didn’t protect the blacks.

Section 3 as I remember allows for removal of state law officials who do not provide proper Section 1 protection.

[Brian Griffin]

Many minority store owners have cause to be angry.

[wastedyears]

When it’s put in front of you like that, it’s easy to see that it all makes sense.

[walkingdead]

The state has always been about protecting itself. The powers that be have worked tirelessly to keep us divided. To keep us at each others throats, for they know, if we band together, and look at what is really going on, that we would be at their throat.

This goes for Republicans as well as democrats. I am convinced that they sit in a back room together, laughing at us, lighting their cigars off $100 bills stolen from our productivity.

The election of Trump should’ve highlighted this to us all. There is a reason republicans resisted Trump as much as the democrats did. Because they are in on the scam together, and Trump is an outsider and not part of the game.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Afternoon bump.