Nice post. I think some people, in their political theorizing, treat government as a *deus ex machina*, preventing anything bad from happening, or at least correcting for it afterward. The *good* things that government prevents are not salient, and its divine status keeps the question, “What if the government fails,” from arising.
In my framework everyone’s citizenship comes with a guarantee of government support in the case of destitution. That way no one goes homeless or hungry or without any basic needs. But you can pick which government you want to contract with and they have to follow the contract and not decide to violate the rights of their citizens. So all the questions to the libertarians are answered while also answering the questions of the libertarians.
Who enforces the contract will be in the contract. Just like regular contracts are done now where it can stipulate how private arbitration is to be used in a dispute. You have to have insurance against destitution as a minimum viable government contract. Otherwise people that can’t take care of themselves end up becoming someone else’s problem. Someone needs to be responsible for people if they become unable to take care of themselves, for whatever reason.
Bryan, great counterexamples to highlight real and hypothetical government failures (a short lesson on public choice theory). Also a solid list of “market failures” examples that Establishment types typically deploy against Libertarians because of their alleged heartless lack of support for a social safety net. However, most folks (including many Libertarians) are completely unaware that we had a robust web of private social safety nets prior to the onslaught of the Federal Welfare State: see “From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State: Fraternal Societies and Social Social Services 1890-1967” by David T, Beito.
Hey I can comment, now!
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What if the government steals your money?!
Nice post. I think some people, in their political theorizing, treat government as a *deus ex machina*, preventing anything bad from happening, or at least correcting for it afterward. The *good* things that government prevents are not salient, and its divine status keeps the question, “What if the government fails,” from arising.
In my framework everyone’s citizenship comes with a guarantee of government support in the case of destitution. That way no one goes homeless or hungry or without any basic needs. But you can pick which government you want to contract with and they have to follow the contract and not decide to violate the rights of their citizens. So all the questions to the libertarians are answered while also answering the questions of the libertarians.
Who enforces the contract?
Can I make a deal with a government that omits any right to support when destitute?
Who enforces the contract will be in the contract. Just like regular contracts are done now where it can stipulate how private arbitration is to be used in a dispute. You have to have insurance against destitution as a minimum viable government contract. Otherwise people that can’t take care of themselves end up becoming someone else’s problem. Someone needs to be responsible for people if they become unable to take care of themselves, for whatever reason.
Who enforces my contract with the U.S. government?
Not the government. That violates contract law for any other entity. It would have to be an independent court.
Which would be under what government’s jurisdiction, and which would have what powers of enforcement?
Comments work for me! Gonna write something here soon
Bryan, great counterexamples to highlight real and hypothetical government failures (a short lesson on public choice theory). Also a solid list of “market failures” examples that Establishment types typically deploy against Libertarians because of their alleged heartless lack of support for a social safety net. However, most folks (including many Libertarians) are completely unaware that we had a robust web of private social safety nets prior to the onslaught of the Federal Welfare State: see “From Mutual Aid to the Welfare State: Fraternal Societies and Social Social Services 1890-1967” by David T, Beito.
It tells me comments on this post are for paid subscribers
Why do you think there haven’t been libertarian governments? Or have there been?
Because if you pose those what if’s they’ll say democracy will wok it out in the next round, we just have to vote harder.
Looks good!
Saw your twitter comment. I let Substack know the problem is still only half-solved.
Test comment.
It's working!
Test comment.
It's working!
Your Twitter comment says otherwise. Which is correct?