A lot of people’s fear about the idea of a stateless society isn’t even about a lack of “government,” so much as it is a fear of “something-that’s-not-familiar-to-me.” Most of the questions about “how will this work?” just come from people having a hard time picturing something they’ve never seen.
Author: Larken Rose
Larken Rose is an anarchist author best known for challenging the IRS to answer questions about the federal tax liability of citizens, and being put in prison with no questions answered. He is the author of The Most Dangerous Superstition.
Where Everyone Does Whatever They Want
Once you understand that everyone already does “whatever he wants to do,” then the question becomes, does the presence of a ruling class make people want to do more good stuff, or want to do more bad stuff, than they would want to do otherwise?
Government “Solutions” Aren’t Based on Principle
There are no “government” solutions that are based on principles. Ever. Whether it’s about drugs, or crime, or education, or immigration, or disease, or poverty, or anything else, authoritarian solutions always come from fear-based, unprincipled, arbitrary emotional reactionary crap.
An Apology For My Nastiness
I have no intention of backing off the slightest bit when it comes to condemning immoral and irrational ideas, and calling people out for advocating them. But I don’t need to—and I shouldn’t—get personally malicious in my remarks.
Reactionary Agendas are Temporary, Principles are Forever
In the long run, people whose reputation, notoriety and supposed importance come from them ranting and screaming against a certain situation, or a certain regime or organization, don’t really matter.
Justifying Present Crimes By Pointing to Past Crimes?
If someone was in the process of trying to steal your wallet, right now, which would be more likely to be the focus of your thoughts, words and actions: 1) the guy stealing your wallet right now, or; 2) some other guy who a while ago stole your TV?
How Strong Are Your Principles?
Much of human history is comprised of people bitching and moaning about one tyrant, only to cheer for another–suffering under one form of oppression for years and years, only to replace it with a slightly different flavor of authoritarian collectivism.
Start Opening Your Damn Eyes
There are only two things that can stop a “government” from becoming totalitarian: 1) a hard and fast, unbreakable “rule” that specifically and clearly limits what political “authority” may be used for; 2) the good graces and self-restraint of politicians. The problem is, neither of those exist in the real world.
We Can’t All Just Get Along
There is a nearly unlimited variety of topics about which I can disagree with someone else while still peacefully coexisting with that person. But politics is not one of them. Ever.
Prison is Counter-Productive
In the majority of cases, prison, as it exists today, is about the most moronic, least efficient, most counter-productive way society could possibly deal with actual criminals (the kind who have actual victims).