Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site oliven.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!sun!idi!oliven!danw From: danw@oliven.UUCP (danw) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: renta-pigs Message-ID: <820@oliven.UUCP> Date: Wed, 6-Mar-85 20:17:50 EST Article-I.D.: oliven.820 Posted: Wed Mar 6 20:17:50 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 9-Mar-85 10:48:24 EST Organization: National Cobalt Testing Range Lines: 71 [] >force to collect your debt, so you send your police to my house to >force me to pay up. They are met by a squad of MY police who >say that they do not recognize the legitimacy of your claim. >Result: gang warfare. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a re-occurring theme in "im afeared of Libertarianism" rhetoric. The concept of private police is a central piece of Libertarian ideology. As a result, Libertarian apologists must deal with this issue to dispel misunderstandings. My apologies to those who see the issue as a simple example of self evident market force questions. The following is for the benefit of those who have genuine questions about the 'nuts and bolts' of the workings of a Libertarian Free State . -> Item : There are no laws , as we are familiar with them, at present. In a Libertarian Free State (LFS) there is no LAW against burglary. If a person breaks into my house, steals my TV, and is later apprehended, he will NOT be charged with first or second degree burglary. ( The law book is NOT the injured party here. I am.) My renta-pig agency will provide detective and incarceration services (or subcontract with those who do). These services are not provided free. My basic monthly fee and insurance policy will cover these things. However, we all benefit from passing costs onto the criminal. As a result, the person who initiated the use of force ( stole my TV) finds himself as a defendant charged with causing perhaps 20 or 30 thousand dollars worth of damage. Police, lawyers, judges, insurance agents, and me, all want a piece of this guy. If he looses the case, there will be a large judgment to pay. -> Please note the taxpayers do not subsidize the process in any way. <- Note: This is NOT the state of --- vs Smith, type of legal action. Me, my insurance company , and my renta-pig company have petitioned the court to hear our case ( we have posted a performance bond , so the court will get its fee no mater what happens). Under our present system, the state can only be sued at its pleasure. Under a Libertarian system, the sword will cut both ways. Smith ( the TV thief) will all most certainly counter-sue me , my insurance company and my renta- pig agency . ( We have initiated force: kidnaping, false imprisonment , brutality, etc.) The amount of the counter suit will be equal to or greater than the amount we are asking. The renta-pig agency MUST carry MASSIVE insurance policies ( similar to medical malpractice insurance) to guard against losing false imprisonment and brutality cases. If a given agency looses a great number of such cases its insurance premiums will begin to climb without limit, the fees it must charge to stay in business will climb without limit,too. Their competitors will have a field day. Inept and/or brutal police agencies will run themselves out of business. I would not contract with an uninsured agency, as this puts me in the position of sharing their unlimited liability. (Remember there are no laws mandating the state of LIMITED LIABILITY in business affairs) Successful renta-pig agencies, will to a large extent, have their activities regulated by their insurance carriers. Risky, brutal or socially unacceptable activities will carry a high insurance premium. In a free and unregulated (by the government) market, one may be able to find renta-pig agencies who send heavily armed men to collect bad debts. Such specialized services would of necessity be prohibitively expensive, due to the liability involved. The cost effective solution to collecting the $1000 bad debt given in the example below, is to hire a bad debt collection agency. >Suppose I owe you $1,000 and refuse to pay. You decide to use >force to collect your debt, so you send your police to my house to >force me to pay up. They are met by a squad of MY police who >say that they do not recognize the legitimacy of your claim. >Result: gang warfare. No. The result is you would be informed (politely) that they (your renta-pig agency ) do NOT do windows, OR collect bad debts. danw