Milton Friedman on government and private enterprise

[a500lbgorilla]

I'm about no government intervention, not choosing something because from one perspective the government intervenes less in it.

Gov't can't not intervene. You have to accept that it has a role in the lives and occurrences of those it governs.

[a500lbgorilla]

Gov't can't not intervene. You have to accept that it has a role in the lives and occurrences of those it governs.

Even when I buy pot, I'm doing it with gov't bills.

[wufwugy]

Even when I buy pot, I'm doing it with gov't bills.

I don't discount that this occurs; I try to provide explanations for why it occurs.

[wufwugy]

Gov't can't not intervene. You have to accept that it has a role in the lives and occurrences of those it governs.

It does now. That doesn't mean government will always be around.

[a500lbgorilla]

It does now. That doesn't mean government will always be around.

Society always has to address conflict. Violence is the most decisive method for resolving conflict. Gov't is what happens when some entity manages violence best.

That means Government will always be around.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Society always has to address conflict. Violence is the most decisive method for resolving conflict. Gov't is what happens when some entity manages violence best.

That means Government will always be around.

It's been flooring me for a while how this simple explanation of gov't explains it so well. It's not the whole picture of how a gov't forms, but it seems to be robust for why gov'ts have spontaneously formed in every human population I've heard of.

I think there's another facet which gets attached to gov'ts and that's the resolution of unintended consequences as population numbers rise for the group. As the society grows, it gets to the point where people doing their own jobs can't have the time to see the bigger picture of progress and how they fit into it. At some point, there comes a need for professionals whose job is this oversight and planning.

[wufwugy]

I think there's another facet which gets attached to gov'ts and that's the resolution of unintended consequences as population numbers rise for the group. As the society grows, it gets to the point where people doing their own jobs can't have the time to see the bigger picture of progress and how they fit into it. At some point, there comes a need for professionals whose job is this oversight and planning.

Yeah this is similar to the points involving how monopolized security is easier for people to legitimize.

Regardless, there are no unique market attributes regarding security when compared to other markets. The most unique thing it seems is that people want monopolized security while balking at the idea of monopolized food, shelter, clothing, etc..

[wufwugy]

Society always has to address conflict. Violence is the most decisive method for resolving conflict. Gov't is what happens when some entity manages violence best.

That means Government will always be around.

Violence is rarely the most decisive method for resolving conflict.

The notion that government happens when an entity is best at violence accounts for a subset of possibilities. There are iterations of violence management that do not necessitate a monopoly.

[Louise A. Radcliffe]

Violence is rarely the most decisive method for resolving conflict.

The notion that government happens when an entity is best at violence accounts for a subset of possibilities. There are iterations of violence management that do not necessitate a monopoly.

Additionally, the effects of insecurity, violence and conflict are devastating. Violence kills, maims and displaces people, reinforces inequalities and creates barriers to economic and human development.