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From: nrh@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Libertarianism Query - (nf)
Message-ID: <1682@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Aug-84 00:45:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: inmet.1682
Posted: Wed Aug 22 00:45:37 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 14-Aug-84 00:44:35 EDT
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#R:zinfandel:-13000:inmet:7800120:000:1094
inmet!nrh    Aug  7 10:38:00 1984

>***** inmet:net.politics / zinfandel!berry /  2:02 am  Aug  5, 1984
>Many discussions of libertarianism mention courts and lawsuits.  Let's say
>someone comes and sets my house on fire while I'm not home and 
>everything burns up.  All my neighbors see him do it and call our
>neighborhood Fire Protection Association.  Since my dues are paid up
>they come out and try to put it out, but my 12000 antique pulp magizines 
>burn too hot and the house is a total loss.
>
>Now I have 'cause for action' against this arsonist right?  I sue him,
>the neighbors testify and I win the judgement.
>
>The arsonist says '**** you, I ain't paying".
>
>Now what happens?  Can I have the job of collecting put out to bid,
>with guaranteed immunity for the collectors if they have to, uh,
>lean on him?  What if he hires better protection people than I do?
>Am I screwed?
>
>  --berry

This comes up so often that I suggest you (and everybody else who fears
a libertarian society would be poorly policed) read David Friedman's
"Machinery of Freedom", Chapter 29, "Police, courts, and laws -- on the
market".