Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Is Government Really Necessary? (video)
The lively Greater Philadelphia Thinking Society discussion happened on December 9, 2012. (http://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/85461612/) Below is the description of the event on the Meetup page:
Most discussions about government start from the assumption that we need a government, but is that really the case? Will society fall apart without it? At this Meetup we'll consider the issue using the following definition of government: an organization with a monopoly on the use of force within a specified geographical area.
Arguments will be heard pro and con while alternatives will be looked at.
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No, that is not correct. Government does not have a monopoly on the use of force. Others can and do use force lawfully.
ReplyDeleteThe defining characteristic of government is that it is the only entity that asserts the power injure anyone with impunity.
If you do not correctly define the problem, you will be unable to deliberately find a solution.
ReplyDeleteI would like to participate in this conversation by way of email. I think I can add a lot to the discussion. I live in texas so I am not able to attend your meetings in person.
ShadowCII,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the insightful comments. Perhaps it is technically legal for non-govt actors to use force but increasingly govts are clamping down on even the most legit cases of self-defense. They certainly do claim a monopoly on the initiation of force.
You're definitely invited to continue to participate in online discussions.