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 Originally Posted by Renton
People who will be willing to use violence to secure their ends are the reason why there is a robust market in security, and I don't mean just the kind that states claim to give to citizens. Corner stores in tough neighborhoods invest in closed-circuit cameras, bulletproof glass, and security guards. But these stores still exist because they can turn a profit in spite of all of the risk factors that increase their costs. No doubt the violence causes a drain on the growth potential of that local economy, but the store wouldn't exist for long if it had an unsuccessful business model, and the bulletproof glass manufacturer contributes to the possibility that even a community wracked by violence can experience economic growth and capital accumulation.
What about corner stores in Donetsk?
Who are you to say what constitutes a personal benefit to someone else? Maybe playing the slot machines in Atlantic City for the weekend helps people relieve the stress and boredom of their day jobs? The value person A ascribes to an activity will not necessarily be the same as person B's valuation of the same activity.
Lotsa maybes. Let's just go with an objective measure: they're wagering money to win money. Do they end up with more money?
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