[ExI] Serfdom and libertarian critiques (Was: Call to Libertarians)

[Stefano Vaj]

On 20 February 2011 20:31, J. Stanton <js_exi at gnolls.org> wrote:
> On 2/19/11 10:46 AM, Richard Loosemore wrote:
>>
>> Taxation and government and redistribution of wealth are what
>> separate us from the dark ages.  The concept of taxation + government
>> + redistribution of wealth was the INCREDIBLE INVENTION that allowed
>> human societies in at least one corner of this planet to emerge from
>> feudal societies where everyone looked after themselves and the devil
>> took the hindmost.
>
> This is a breathtakingly counterfactual statement.

I am inclined to agree.

"Taxation" is an old invention indeed, and not a very clear-cut one
for that matter (what about compulsory or heavily-encouraged community
services in hunting-and-gathering tribes?).

On the other hands, it is absolute private property of wealth in the
modern sense which is a relatively new concept. The feodal lords were
not the *owner" of their land in the modern sense, they were rather
enjoying a privilege which could be accorded and under some
circumstances revoked, had a limited if any transferability, was
supposed to be parcelled through further concessions to lower lords
(vavasours, vassals of vavasours), etc. Moreover, commonal property
took the place to some extent of wealth distribution through services
paid by taxes levied by a central bureacracy.

-- 
Stefano Vaj