Thursday, July 1, 2010

what is so special about property protection?

The Tea party and other libertarians proclaim that the on ly function of government is protect borders, protect property and enforce contracts, although Rick Perry adds delivering mail to the list. What is so special about these services that elevates them to being legitimate functions of government? To me, protection of property is the ultimate nanny state service. I rely on dogs and guns. I say those who loudly proclaim their county or state sovereignty should be the first to demand freedom from protection. Courts are paternalistic also. If you need a court to enforce a contract you are to weak to demand much of anyone and should gladly take what you are given. Border protection? Seems like invasions should be stopped with the kind of militias the Founders envisioned. Why is Afghanistan unconquerable? No central government to topple, just thousands of warriors taking orders from a local warlord. My point is that the "natural" functions of government that Libertarians speak of are not natural at all, just arbitrary rules benefiting a certain class/caste in the US. Health Care is no less a Natural function of government than any other function. It is just that the Tea folks have not had an insurance company destroy their lives yet so they figure it is only a luxury, unlike having someone to respond to a burglar alarm.

1 comment:

  1. If a libertarian marries an anarchist, does that make their baby LiberaChe?

    ReplyDelete