Lets say that a stateless society were to be on the horizon. Obviously there will be the phasing out of government into a free society. What will happen to monuments such as Statue of Liberty, Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, The Great Wall, etc. Since government does not own it anymore, it’s essentially up for grabs. Who will preserve the monuments for maintenance, electricity to light it at night, etc. In the transition phase from government to free society how would we go about ownership? After all, the previous owner (government) can’t sell it since they are essentially dead. So whatever organization that takes over could possibly get it for free?
These things seem like prime investments for private investors to turn into profitable tourist attractions. The question then becomes, are they bought? And if so, who is the receiving party of the exchange?
I edited my question. Thanks for the answers.
I’d happily raise funds to purchase Mount Rushmore, just so I could have the pleasure of dynamiting it [H]
Since the State’s claim on such property is illegitimate, individuals are free to appropriate it based on the homesteading principle. If a company wanted to develop it into a tourist attraction, they are free to draw up contracts with the new owners or buy it outright.
So yes, if the State were to disappear tomorrow it might get a little hectic at first with regards to all these monuments (and other “public property”). But that is to no fault of the market, since the State has for so long prevented the rightful assignment of property titles to such monuments and has thus led to this confusion. On the other hand, it may not be hectic at all in some situations since the people involved with the day to day operations of the monuments might homestead them before any others and continue to operate smoothly, and/or facilitate the transfer of ownership to the tourism company that wants to run the place.
I want the Lincoln memorial. I was thinking of dynamiting Dishonest Abe and his throne and replacing it with something more suitable, like a seated statue of Zeus.
I would erect a seated statue of von Mises or Rothbard, but I am certain both men would have disdained any such honor during their lives, although they are both of the very small number of men who actually would deserve such a level of honor.
EDIT:
Bulldoze FDR memorial. Replace with a suitable statue.
Are you referring to the old FDR memorial the size of his desk, or the much newer FDR memorial that has separate fields for each term of his presidency? I propose a statue of Poseidon in the latter. No, actually, I propose a statue of Andrew Ryan in the latter monument.
I was suffering brainlock. For some reason I was picturing the Jefferson Memorial in my mind and thinking FDR Memorial for some strange reason.
After reconsideration, nothing much to do with the FDR Memorial but just bulldoze it. Maybe replace the entire site with a statue of Athena or Poseidon.
While I’d advocate for the LvMI to try purchase the . Have you noticed it looks like a big A (for Anarchy!) at a distance? A perfect reminder to everyone of he blessings of decentralization.
I think the entire memorial should be kept perfectly in tact, except that we should replace his head with a giant phallus. It would send archeologists in the distant future an unambiguous message of our affection.
IN THIS TEMPLE
AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE
FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION
THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
IS ENSHRINED FOREVER
Lol. I’ve never thought of that before, but now I’ll never be able to forget it. Epic.
LvMI should also get the Statue of Liberty, IMO.
Nah, it’s a stupid Masonic pregnant Mary Magdalene. The institute should have nothing to do with that kind of things. The island is an interesting acquisition though [6]
How much do you guys think the Capitol building would go for in the market?
I don’t know, but I’d pay admission to see it demo’d V-for-Vendetta-style on the 4th of July.
On a related note, anyone have an idea on how navy ships would be homesteaded? I’ve always considered the air craft carriers to be large moving monuments.
I remember Lew Rockwell saying something about this. He was talking about the purchasing of national monuments by private enterprises and how no one would want the Lincoln or FDR memorials.
Yeah, for what other reason would people congregate within that DC area, other than as the political sycophants and fawning acolytes of today?
You can rest assured that to stay alive the government will liquidate every asset it has before it goes dead.
There will be no homesteading of state property.