Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!mgnetp!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!akgua!mcnc!decvax!cca!ima!inmet!nrh 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 Lines: 27 #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".