Why Anarchy Sucks By Richard Yelland

Initial reaction A bit out of touch with reality A rather silly ideological extreme In conflict with the economic concept of “common goods”

Why “out of touch with reality”? Because it ignores, or attempts to ignore, the power factor in human society

Why “a rather silly ideological extreme”? Because it tries to make just one paradigm applicable to all aspects of human life

“In conflict with the economic concept of common goods” Are common goods an “empty set”? (Jim) Definition: those goods/services which are not supplied by the market because there is no economic incentive to do so, but which are essential for the market to work

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 1: There is no freedom without democracy Only two choices: Democracy Despotism

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 2: Anarchy is by definition anti- democracy

Reason number 3: Since there is no freedom in the real world without democracy, and anarchists are anti- democracy… Anarchy is anti-freedom

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 4: There is neither empirical or theoretical evidence for anarchy as a lasting/durable institution

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 5: There is no serious academic support for anarchy A negative critique of anything does not constitute a positive defense of anything else

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 6: There are natural laws at work which are beyond our control Live in harmony with them, or be destroyed by them Besides the market paradigm, there is the power paradigm

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 7: The fundamental rationale for limited government is – To provide objective control over the use of force

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 8: Anarchy is essentially a pleasant fantasy which regretfully is outside reality – The fantasy of a world without the use of force

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 9: Common goods – National defence Ultimate control over policing Ultimate court of appeal Carrying out of sentences/rulings Control over contagious diseases Supervising contracting out of municipal services – roads, sanitation, garbage

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 10: Western civilisation has been tied to the rise and fall of democracy A mere 200 years ago, democracy revived in the West – bringing economic freedom

Reason number 11: Anarchists appear to make no conceptual distinction between democratic government and despotic government

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 12: “Inherent tendencies of democratic government towards statism”? The latest evidence shows otherwise – Economic Freedom of the World index shows massive shifts

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 13: A power vacuum gets filled by the most bloodthirsty despot How wars arise (Thatcher) The role of the USA in the defence of freedom in the last 100 years

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 14: Do individuals have a “right” to the use of retaliatory force? Fundamental tenet of civilisation – No-one can take the law into their own hands

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 15: Is the practical implementation of anarchy of no relevance to the “moral” argument against the State? This will require us to commit suicide to live up to an impossible moral standard

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 16: The market economy rests on certain preconditions, the absence of which renders it inoperable – The rule of law Administration of justice Defensive force subject to objective control

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 17: The domain of the market is very clear – Providing every kind of economic goods and services

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 18: The role of government is also clear – Providing objective control over the use of force

Reason number 19: Yes, the state is overstepping its boundaries – But this does not provide any logical support for scrapping democratic government altogether The perfect society is attainable in our lifetimes, where the state sticks to its true function

20 good reasons why anarchy sucks… Reason number 20: Believe in our fellow human beings, via the democratic process – Sooner or later they will learn where their best interest lies This is the story of civilisation

Democratic Capitalism Our best hope in the gradual transformation of mankind from ignorance to enlightenment