How many of you have successfully converted your friends and/or family to anarchism?
Please share any tips, ideas, stories, etc.
Good post sage. I would not consider myself an anarchist, however, I can understand and agree with most anarchist beliefs. Where I need some convincing/converting is in the areas of the punishment and the courts (I am not saying that I agree with any part of the way it is handled in our present system). Sorry if I sound naive about these issues, but I am not sure exactly what the anarchist position is on them. How exactly would a court system work in an anarcho-capitalist society? I have listened to Robert Murphy talk some about this issue, but I am not sold on it. Also, I am mildly familiar with Libertarian philosphy on punishment (an eye for two-eyes position), so would there simply be no prisons in stateless system? Can anyone help me out?
I’m not going to explain how courts work because that takes far too much time. I recommend you read the book “The Machinery of Freedom”.
As for prisons, this would be determined by the demand for them. Those courts that decide to give out prison sentences (as per popular demand) would either themselves fund these prisons, or there may be separate firms in charge of building and operating them. The expenses would be covered by the courts or the PDAs, which in turn would be covered by the consumer.
Fred, Thanks for the info on the prisons. I think I will take your advice on reading that book.
Even better than Friedman are the Tannehills, in their classic “The Market for Liberty”.
Okay, thanks. I will look into it
Incorrect. It is todays penitentiary system that is punitive. A libertarian system would be restitutive.
The fact that penitentiaries are counter productive to the creation of justice ensures they would not exist in a free society. And well they shouldn’t.
PDF and Audio versions.
Thanks for the link and the information on prisons. I will definetley look into it more. Like I said earlier, I am not real familiar with anarchist concepts concerning these issues so thanks again for the help.
Well, my dad still clings to minarchism. I think I may have sparked a lightbulb in one of my friends’ head the other day when I said I would like to abolish government.