Some good questions about arachno-capitalism...

Economics Political Theory
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  1. Lets say that a country overthrew its government and turned into an arachno-capitalist society. Do you think people would move there? Would people, after seeing a working version of this society, be convinced that this is the best system? Would this start a domino effect, causing the destruction of coercive government?

  2. You can either choose to leave this world and head to an arachno-capitalist society with a similar level of technology and prosperity, but with only your clothes and a few small possesions. You will have to cut off all friendships and relationships (the transport is for you only and is an alternate universe). Would you choose to do it, and why would you make that choice?

  3. If the US suddenly turned arachno-capitalistic, what cultural change do you think it would cause and why?

  4. Are there any good arguments against arachno-capitalism? (I am still searching)

Why I am not an Arachno-Capitalist.
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I don’t know about other people here, but I hate spiders.

(sorry, had to do it)

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Arachno-capitalism?! I envision a world governed by large, hairy but very well-dressed spiders with a particular affinity for top hats…

As for criticisms of anarcho-capitalism, there are plenty of debates concerning both the methodology of Austrian economics as well as some of its conclusions (i.e. concerning rates of interest, IIRC). It’s all very interesting, it certainly sparked my own interest in economics and in pursuing further education in that discipline. As for criticisms of anarcho-capitalism as a political philosophy, they do exist, but in my experience mostly rest upon old Marxist notions that some people refuse to let go of. Debate regarding Hayek’s work in political philosophy is somewhat more active, at least in my experience, because Hayek has had a greater impact on mainstream politics than someone like say Rothbard did. I’ve started encountering some discussion of Hayek in my more advanced political science classes (I attend the University of Montreal) but only heard Rothbard mentioned once, by a political economy teacher who basically considered him a minor thinker who was “more Hayekian than Hayek”.

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A lot of people would move there and a lot of people would move away. Productive members of society would move there and fascists, communist agitators, crony capitalists, and welfare queens would leave.

In centuries past, when immigrants came to America, often they would have to leave wives and children behind. Then, after a few years, their wives and children would be able to come to America and they would all be reunited.

That’s what I would do. I would go, and then hopefully my friends and family would have the chance to move as well and we’d be reunited.

Some people think we would all turn to drugs and porn. Face it, we already have drugs and porn. I think any changes would be for the better. More wealth, more freedom, less violence, good things all around.

The amount of arguments against ancap is overwhelming. Whether they have any merit is a matter of opinion.

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and for the record, I would never do business with arachno-capitalists unless they were contractually obligated not to tie me up in their webs and drink my blood.

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Eight-eyed sunglasses would be all the rage

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  1. I’m not certain how “a country” would overthrow “its” government. Only PEOPLE can overthrow a government. So let’s start there: Let’s say a strong group of people – a military coup probably – overthrew the government existing in an area. But turns out the people who did the overthrowing were voluntaryists, or anarchists (not likely in a “military coup” type organization, since libertarianism implies we simply do not believe in committing violence upon anyone unless defending ourselves, our loved ones, and/or our property – but we can fantasize that enough armed men and women had met and concurred “government” was indeed so bad as to justify the violence and that we were “defending” our families and property). We would also have to assume at this point that those anarchists who did the overthrowing truly believed and could be counted upon and trusted – all of them – to not intervene in the affairs or upon the property of the existing citizenry. All government depends upon the trust of the majority of those submitting to being governed. The question: would people move there? Answer: yes. Would people…..be convinced this was best? Answer: Yes. Certainly they would. Would this cause a domino effect, causing the destructive effect of coercive government? Answer: no. (I’m still puzzling out how libertarian folks would successfully “overthrow” a government. “Joining” is the only thing I can imagine. Ron Paul tried that, look what support he got. Now, of course, the “existing government” also owned the press and public media, so Dr. Paul had no hearing or audience and no means by which to get his message out other than mouth-to-mouth and voluntaryist type supporters on the web, including Lew Rockwell.com. He didn’t get to first base. But he and his supporters did a remarkable job. I didn’t “vote” for him. But I am a sovereign state. My President is responsible for the rotation of the earth on its axis). My “no” answer, then, is predicated on the feeling that there would never be a sufficient number of anarchist types who would arm themselves adequately to “overthrow” the existing government – or to do deadly harm if they met with resistance, which they would. Their only solution is “joining” as Dr. Paul tried.
  2. No. I am a sovereign state. Why should I trust that the existing “government” (or lack thereof) in some distant state or land is and will stay “Anarcho capitalist”? I know human nature. I know that in a given group there will be certain numbers of those who will arise and seek to become the established “authority”. “Our Leaders”. “Our Founding Fathers”. Tyranny is not far behind. I know the parasites of “government” will be successful in robbing me of certain resources, and I have that built into my statehood budget. My challenge in life is circumventing their thievery and enjoying every minute I have left with my family and friends.
  3. Lots and lots – and that’s what all our essays are about. Read Lew Rockwell or Strike the Root or Karen Decoster or any of a large number of bloggers and essayists and you will understand some of the cultural changes that would be extant under Anarcho-capitalism.
  4. No. None whatsoever. Who is John Galt?
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Those who invested in Octal-Opticals would make out like bandits.

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Capitalist spiders, what a concept.

Hello From a “Post- Austrian”,Anarcho-Capitalist ,Taoist, 911 “No- Planer” :

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