“The basic argument I hear is that the state was formed by agrarian peoples to protect themselves from roaming marauders, barbarians, and thugs.”
I earlier suggested that “the origin of the state is tied to the origin of religion. Religion provided explanation and was used to justify authority. I speculate bad ideas easily became dominant with the state’s creation. Its existence eventually made it considered normal, a part of life, although the reason it allegedly needed to exist was never logically proven. Even in the 21st century, U.S. presidents place their hands on the bible when promising to adhere to the U.S. constitution. What about the secular governments? I earlier explained that governments “have existed for centuries. They are considered normal. People are unaware that they are unnecessary and any arguably necessary function they serve can be privately provided.”
I agree with Epicurus Ibn Kalhoun that different prehistoric governments may have originated due to different reasons.
“I propose that the state was NOT formed to protect against roaming muraders, but instead that the state was formed BY the roaming muraders themselves.”
That is possible, but it may not be the only explanation.
“You can take less than all of his crops, leaving him enough to support himself, make a small profit, and to create an incentive for him to continue to produce. This will allow you to steal from him season after season.”
This assumes the farmer does not resist by moving, by fighting back, and/or by cooperating with other farmers to fight, the marauders.
“Sadly, this is the best condition the farmer can hope for, least he be fully exploited”
As I said earlier, the farmer has various resistance options. The farmer could become a marauder.
I doubt most of U.S. police forces and the U.S. military view themselves are marauders. I suspect most of them view their profession as necessary. If these people can be persuaded of private security provision, they can may be reluctant, if not, defiant of government orders.