- #1
wasteofo2
- 478
- 2
The "What does Smurf think?" thread.
This thread is all about what Smurf, my favorite anti-statist on this board, thinks. Specifically, about what would happen were "the state" abolished.
First off, is your version of anti-statism pretty self explanatory? Is anti-statism the same thing as total anarchy?
Secondly, were the state abolished, what do you think would happen? It's one thing to dislike what a particular state does, or what states do as a whole, but I'd like to see you make the case that the total absence of all states would lead to a better situation than you currently have.
Take your time, please, develop a well-thought-out manifesto if you will. Touch all your bases, try to make it as complete as possible. I realize you're big on how bad states are, and it's certainly easy to point out all the negative things about states. But try to postulate what would happen in a world without any states instead of point out the negative aspects of states and simply say that the absence of states would lead to the absence of said negative aspects.
Some basic problems I'd like to see you provide an answer for are:
1) Without a state, there presumably wouldn't be money. How would people get the goods and services they need/want without money?
2) Without a state, how would individuals be sure that they could keep the goods they do obtain? That is, how can you be sure someone with a weapon won't just take your food or clothing?
3) Without a state, there wouldn't be police or a military. How would people's general security be assured? What would be stopping someone from killing/enslaving others if he had enough weaponry/mercenaries?
4) In the absence of a state, what would stop some form of state from arising? What if another state arose in the absence of the previously abolished state?
I appreciate any time you might put into this,
Jacob
P.S. Just to reiterate, please, try to stay away from stating all the wrongs and evils of a state. Just because a state infringes upon people's liberties and kills people, it doesn't mean that in the absence of a state that things would necessarily get better.
This thread is all about what Smurf, my favorite anti-statist on this board, thinks. Specifically, about what would happen were "the state" abolished.
First off, is your version of anti-statism pretty self explanatory? Is anti-statism the same thing as total anarchy?
Secondly, were the state abolished, what do you think would happen? It's one thing to dislike what a particular state does, or what states do as a whole, but I'd like to see you make the case that the total absence of all states would lead to a better situation than you currently have.
Take your time, please, develop a well-thought-out manifesto if you will. Touch all your bases, try to make it as complete as possible. I realize you're big on how bad states are, and it's certainly easy to point out all the negative things about states. But try to postulate what would happen in a world without any states instead of point out the negative aspects of states and simply say that the absence of states would lead to the absence of said negative aspects.
Some basic problems I'd like to see you provide an answer for are:
1) Without a state, there presumably wouldn't be money. How would people get the goods and services they need/want without money?
2) Without a state, how would individuals be sure that they could keep the goods they do obtain? That is, how can you be sure someone with a weapon won't just take your food or clothing?
3) Without a state, there wouldn't be police or a military. How would people's general security be assured? What would be stopping someone from killing/enslaving others if he had enough weaponry/mercenaries?
4) In the absence of a state, what would stop some form of state from arising? What if another state arose in the absence of the previously abolished state?
I appreciate any time you might put into this,
Jacob
P.S. Just to reiterate, please, try to stay away from stating all the wrongs and evils of a state. Just because a state infringes upon people's liberties and kills people, it doesn't mean that in the absence of a state that things would necessarily get better.
Last edited: