Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site kontron.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!pesnta!pertec!kontron!cramer From: cramer@kontron.UUCP (Clayton Cramer) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Financing the government of a free s Message-ID: <287@kontron.UUCP> Date: Thu, 27-Jun-85 12:47:06 EDT Article-I.D.: kontron.287 Posted: Thu Jun 27 12:47:06 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 29-Jun-85 03:33:06 EDT References: <7800339@inmet.UUCP> <3887@alice.UUCP> Organization: Kontron Electronics, Irvine, CA Lines: 15 > > Just because the government offers contract enforcement services doesn't > > mean that nobody else will. Indeed, the government is so bad at this that > > arbitration groups are becoming increasingly popular. > > That's certainly true. The Mafia, for example, has very effective ways > of enforcing their contracts. > > But since I believe that the government should have a legal monopoly > on the use of force against people, it should not be legal for anyone > but the government to enforce contracts. The original comment referred to *arbitration* groups, not the Mafia. You are also comparing the Mafia forcing people to abide by (usually coerced) contracts *in which they have a financial interest*, as opposed to an impartial observer.