This is an argument that collectivists seem to be shilling out more and more these days. Their logic is that since Pakistan has no taxes, it is Anarcho-Capitalist and thus is a proven failure of limited government.
I have my own points against it, but I am interested in seeing what people here have to say first.
Are you saying there’s people OUTSIDE of lunatic asylums who are of the opinion that Pakistan has limited government?
lol pakistan has a history of some terrible government intervention. Pakistani certainly has taxes and incredibly high corporate taxes. A lot of people try as hard as they can NOT to pay any taxes to the government of Pakistan just because of how corrupt it is. There are all sorts of other “hidden” taxes like being robbed by police officers who stop you for bribe money or having your car towed for no reason and they leave a small yellow piece of paper(Like a post it note) on the floor which just gets blown away by the wind leaving you with absolutely no clue as to what just happened.
Pakistan is a fantastic example of how horribly inefficient and corrupt a government can be- not the opposite. I can’t even fathom how anyone would say such a thing. Foreign government intervention into Pakistan is also a huge source of misery for pakistanis. Where is the incentive to invest in a country that’s constantly being painted as the ultimate terrorist nation with a phantom named bin laden living in the suburbs.
Turn the question around: if they want tons of government, why don’t they go to China?
I agree with Wheylous: Why go into long-winded explanations when you can just turn their stupidity back on them?
If they’re even asking this question, it shows that they haven’t had the least bit of thought about the subject whatsoever. Zero contemplation.
They’re simply regurgitators, and they’d probably be unable to follow your reasoning anyway.
I’m going with the China bit.
I think pointing to Greece is more appropriate than pointing to China. After all, the latter has in many ways a freer market than the USA has, and the socialist opponent - ignoring this - can simply retort that China must be doing so well because of its government intervention.
Also, bringing up Singapore and Hong Kong - relatively laissez-faire places that are extremely rich despite the lack of natural resources - wouldn’t hurt.
Because the human capital over there is terrible.
Other issues aside, I wouldn’t move to Pakistan to escape the wrath of the US Federal Government, because they’re there too, blowing things up.
Pretty soon all of these “why don’t you move to such-and-such a 3rd world shithole” snarks will be moot, because the US Federal Government and its bombs will be everywhere.
Then again, I suppose it would always be the victim’s fault for being in the victimizer’s way, even if the only alternative for the victim was suicide…
To be fair, I built a slight straw man, because they’re not necessarily for bog government, but for “smarter” government. As if it exists.