Moderator-Regulator War and Anarchism

[bgreen]

I just read the article on the “Wild West” by Anderson (http://mises.org/daily/4108) and am puzzled by the “Moderator-Regulator War” of East Texas. It seems an example of the failure of the Anarcho-capitalistic system of private defense. It appears that the folks involved did not realize that war was a more costly way to resolve disputes than private courts, etc.

I have seen statists use it as a justification for the State.

I suppose I would answer that it is one example of apparent (and temporary) failure against many examples of success in the Old West, and that there could have been State-driven distortions introduced, or perhaps it would have resolved itself given enough time.

How would you answer this?

Thanks,

Bill

[Sage]

@William Green

It seems an example of the failure of the Anarcho-capitalistic system of private defense. It appears that the folks involved did not realize that war was a more costly way to resolve disputes than private courts, etc.

I have seen statists use it as a justification for the State.

Textbook nirvana fallacy.

[Stranger]

@William Green

It appears that the folks involved did not realize that war was a more costly way to resolve disputes than private courts, etc.

Sometimes war is needed.