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

[Mike Lorrey]

--- Ian Goddard <iamgoddard at yahoo.com> wrote:
> --- 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." 

It seems to me that the only real problems in Somalia is an oversupply
of people whose only salable skill is pulling a trigger, and an
undersupply of aid workers who are willing to carry their own weapons.

Mike Lorrey
Vice-Chair, 2nd District, Libertarian Party of NH
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
                                      -William Pitt (1759-1806) 
Blog: http://intlib.blogspot.com


		
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