Why does the state feel the need to protect the military through private security? It doesn’t make much sense when you think about it. The U.S. Government is supposed to be the strongest, best trained, and most technologically advanced military in the world, yet it feels the need to hire private people to guard their bases both domestically and abroad.
I, in fact, am one such person posted on a U.S. base in Kosovo. And I’ve begun to ask myself how I can justify my presence here (let alone the government’s). I have recently turned into an anarchist, and am wondering if, by being here, I am in more support of the state here, not paying taxes but being in direct support of the forces, then I would be back home, in the private sector, paying my ransom to the state? I have thought about this a lot and have come up with several answers to this, on both sides, but would like the input of you, the Libertarian forces for freedom.
It’s pretty ironic, isn’t it? Minarchists say defense is one thing the State does well, yet they contract all their work out to private agencies. I bet the agencies make a killing on the defense contracts, though.
Welcome. The military hires the private sector for pretty much all of its other needs. Where does your army gear come from? Who builds the bullets, guns, ships, aircrafts, and pretty much everything else. Except for tiny fraction of probably 0.001% that may come from some government research bullshit agency or whatever, everything the military uses to conduct its wars is by means of private industry, except… for you.
It seems to me then that it is no more then a common fallacy then to distinguish between direct government servants and indirect contractors. It’s like the Fascism-Socialism false dichotomy. Which form is more common seems to be a matter of tradition and not one of significant importance.
Well you are correct about all equipment. It goes even farther then that too though, in that a lot of services a military base requires, uses private persons and companies. A few examples are: the dining facilities are run and operated here in Kosovo by local nationals, all the electronic equipment, such a security cameras, computers, and even the Internet service are all run by private companies.
That aside though, the point of my inquiry was to get an anarchist opinion about my conundrum. That is, how can someone justify working on a military base, even for a private company, in any position? And if you don’t find a difference, and you may be right, between supporting the government directly versus indirectly, how can you deal with living in any modern country? The bases of that question of course being that doing literally anything but sitting in a jail cell help the government in some way, supports the state in some way. Whether you are paying taxes, voting (even for a libertarian party member), going to a public school, keeping money in the bank (due to the fractional reserve banking system), or any other numerous activities that all amount to daily life. If you see no difference between direct support (working in a government position of some kind) and supporting it indirectly (just living in society) what alternative does one have?
Being that I am pretty new to the ideology of anarchy, I am try to find a way to live consistently through this ideology. I realize that we do not live in such a society and that one cannot be free of the whip, but that shouldn’t mean I have to support it either. And I do realize that talk about it with others and spreading the concept can go a long way, But their must be more then that I can do. After all, the State will not simply one day say “okay I’m big enough and have had my fun. Here is your freedom back.”
it is impossible to be absolutely consistent in a world of violence. Anarchists drive on state’s roads. Use other “services”. Sometimes one has to decide - either self interest or strict principles. Even though, road issue is pretty easy to debunk or at least to justify.
Do what you think is just or morally correct. In other words, what is best for YOU. I think the most important things is try not do do violence directly. That is NAP and so on. Well, inderect support for violent organization is another thing… it’s your dilemma. But you don’t have to sacrifice your career, especially if they pay good I don’t know, I don’t have the answer, you have to find it for yourself.
Read more about anarchist philosophy and try to come to your conclusions gradually and don’t make fast decisions, evaluate all alternatives, if you know what I mean.
Thanks for the advise. I have begun to read a lot of the literature, such as Lysander Spooner and Rothbard (as well as others), and I will continue to do so. I only have another 5 months or so on contract anyway and then I’m heading back to the states. The one good thing being here has done for me though, is that it has gave me the means of buying a lot of books on the subject and to have the cash to donate to the Mises Institute. I was also able to invest a good amount into precious metals. And my income was all tax free, so that was great too.
Being here has certainly shown me, if Rothbard, Ron Paul and others weren’t able to convince, that our bases on foreign soil are a complete waist of money and serve absolutely no purpose. There is not even a conflict here. There is no fighting. I can go out into town and even to the surrounding countries (kinda neat). But it is all just a drain on the tax payer and on our resources. A complete waist of time and money.
I don’t know, I don’t have the answer, you have to find it for yourself.