[extropy-chat] the ultimate free market - a warning to us all

[Ian Goddard]

--- Rik van Riel <riel at surriel.com> wrote:

> Aside from the regular stories about war lords in
> Somalia, the BBC has some very nice articles about 
> how exactly the economy works without any 
> government.
> 
>
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/somalia/default.stm
> 
> This should be a nice discussion point for free
> marketeers and minarchists - apparently it is good 
> to have some government.


 As per the subject heading, I don't think zero
government, or anarchy, equates to "free market." The
concept of free markets is classically predicated on
existence of (1) private property, (2) contract law,
and (3) tort liability. Most free-market advocates
presume as a given that these conditions are to be
safeguarded by an established and stable minimal state
with few if any duties there beyond. As such, anarcho
Somalia is not a proper example of what is classically
referred to by the term "free market." 

~Ian

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