Difference between revisions of "Myths/government is the source of all oppression"
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| + | [[category:government]] | ||
| + | {{hdr/myth|Government is the source of all oppression.}} | ||
==The Myth== | ==The Myth== | ||
The argument seems to be something like this: | The argument seems to be something like this: | ||
| − | # {{l/same| | + | # {{l/same|government has a monopoly on force}} in our society. |
# Business {{l/same|monopolies would not exist without government}} support. | # Business {{l/same|monopolies would not exist without government}} support. | ||
# Therefore only government can coerce individuals into making choices they wouldn't make otherwise. | # Therefore only government can coerce individuals into making choices they wouldn't make otherwise. | ||
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# Government therefore creates oppression through (a) its monopoly on force and (b) restricting how others may interact (e.g. by creating or encouraging business monopolies). | # Government therefore creates oppression through (a) its monopoly on force and (b) restricting how others may interact (e.g. by creating or encouraging business monopolies). | ||
==The Reality== | ==The Reality== | ||
| − | # Government [[myths/government has a monopoly on force|does not have a monopoly on force]]. | + | # Government [[myths/government has a monopoly on force|does '''not''' have a monopoly on force]]. |
| − | # Monopolies [[myths/monopolies would not exist without government|can exist]] without government. | + | # Monopolies [[myths/monopolies would not exist without government|'''can''' exist]] without government. |
# Business has many ways of coercing or persuading individuals to make bad choices. | # Business has many ways of coercing or persuading individuals to make bad choices. | ||
| − | The ultimate basis of this myth seems to be the firm belief that all political power | + | The ultimate basis of this myth seems to be the firm belief that all political power – that is, the ability for one person or group to coerce other people -- originates with government, and therefore if you eliminate government there will be no political power. [[political power comes from technology|This is false]]. |
Latest revision as of 22:34, 11 June 2015
| Myth: Government is the source of all oppression. |
The Myth
The argument seems to be something like this:
- government has a monopoly on force in our society.
- Business monopolies would not exist without government support.
- Therefore only government can coerce individuals into making choices they wouldn't make otherwise.
- Without government, therefore, individuals are free to choose the terms of their interactions with others.
- When individuals are free to choose who they interact with and how, no individual or organization would acquire too much power because people would stop doing business with them.
- Government therefore creates oppression through (a) its monopoly on force and (b) restricting how others may interact (e.g. by creating or encouraging business monopolies).
The Reality
- Government does not have a monopoly on force.
- Monopolies can exist without government.
- Business has many ways of coercing or persuading individuals to make bad choices.
The ultimate basis of this myth seems to be the firm belief that all political power – that is, the ability for one person or group to coerce other people -- originates with government, and therefore if you eliminate government there will be no political power. This is false.