Wed. 12/06/06 20:16 EDT
.post #161[url=Police Stop, Handcuff Every Adult at Intersection in Search for Bank Robber - #31 by bloomj31]
I won’t tell you that you “should” value one thing over another. I would simply point out to people that this is a symptom of an inherently rotten system, and that such a system is not inevitable, but rather, the inevitable result of unquestioned acceptance of certain ideas.
Of course, but I think that, being universally obvious, this doesn’t really offer anything new or “better” to people who don’t know about libertarianism.
What I think is not universally obvious is the idea that what is currently monopolized by government can be offered on the market and that, in addition to greater choice, lower prices, higher quality and better service, consumers, by choosing how and where to spend their own money, would finally have the power to reward those who best serve them, and punish those who don’t. For example, how many owners would dare allow mall security to handcuff every patron for two hours and ransack private property, all on the pretext of apprehending a shoplifter? Only government can continually get away with this abusive behavior; competitive, market enterprises can’t afford it.
So while we all must manage, in our own ways, with the unpleasant daily realities of the “statist quo,” we can additionally try to “spread the good word” and proselytize.