1. Lets say a small town in the US tried to leave the Union. Instead of following stupid laws, they would form an arachno-capitalist society. What would the state do in response? What arguments would their burecrats use to justify what they are doing? Ultimately, would this be a boon or a disaster for the arachno-capitalist movement?
2. What are some truths, if any, that are widely-known but contradict statism, socialism, or communism (etc, etc.)?
Schools are labour camps.
1. Who knows exactly what would happen? Most likely the US government would not stand for it, and if they didn't storm in to use violence to force the town to rejoin the union, they would blockade the town until they gave in and rejoined. The politicians would most likely say that secession is unacceptable because solidarity and unity are important, and would use Lincoln's precedent to justify whatever destruction they cause.
2. I think the Declaration of Independence is the most well-known American document that contradicts these arguments.
eliotn:1. Lets say a small town in the US tried to leave the Union. Instead of following stupid laws, they would form an arachno-capitalist society. What would the state do in response? What arguments would their burecrats use to justify what they are doing? Ultimately, would this be a boon or a disaster for the arachno-capitalist movement?
I've heard that there's a group of survivalists who live in Alaska. The don't pay taxes and think the UN is a conspiracy to create a One World Government. Google "Louis Theroux: Survivalists" for the documentary. These guys are well armed so they're left alone.
If a more high profile place attempted to secede, all the usual caveats will be thrown at them: "they're bomb throwing anarchists, paedophiles and murders. They hate America and they hate you" etc etc
eliotn:2. What are some truths, if any, that are widely-known but contradict statism, socialism, or communism (etc, etc.)?
Violence by one human against another is bad?
Irish Liberty Forum
eliotn:Lets say a small town in the US tried to leave the Union. Instead of following stupid laws, they would form an arachno-capitalist society. What would the state do in response?
Unless some nation-wide controversy happens to be generated by the state's initial acts against them, most likely the same thing that happened when the South seceded.
That said, it's possible that, once seceded, they might (ephemerally) simply go unnoticed.
eliotn:What arguments would their burecrats use to justify what they are doing?
See the sub-heading "Sophisms Arguments against Secession" in the wikipedia article on secession.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secession
eliotn:Ultimately, would this be a boon or a disaster for the arachno-capitalist movement?
There's really no way of telling. It depends on how it's spun by the media (unless Americans learn to think for themselves).
eliotn:What are some truths, if any, that are widely-known but contradict statism, socialism, or communism (etc, etc.)?
NAP, for starters. (Edit: Looks like Matthew beat me to this one).
Diminishing Marginal Utility - IT'S THE LAW!
eliotn:What would the state do in response?
I'm not sure what they could do. If it happened I'm sure the response would be to either use the full force of the U.S. military to discourage others from doing the same, or, they'd just have to let it quietly slip away. The former would inevitably lead to difficulties, with the internet it'd be exceedingly hard to cover it up, moreover there's already a great deal of sentiment against the state. Going into a town that has done nothing more than tried to leave the union would cause outrage. Keep in mind that the state is already caught up in two foreign wars, it can't afford to be fighting its own people.
Whatever they could. Nonetheless, they'd have an exceedingly difficult time trying to cover it up.
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Bob Dylan
wouldn't they just not recognize the secession, and arrest everyone for tax evasion?
GilesStratton: eliotn:What would the state do in response? I'm not sure what they could do. If it happened I'm sure the response would be to either use the full force of the U.S. military to discourage others from doing the same, or, they'd just have to let it quietly slip away. The former would inevitably lead to difficulties, with the internet it'd be exceedingly hard to cover it up, moreover there's already a great deal of sentiment against the state. Going into a town that has done nothing more than tried to leave the union would cause outrage. Keep in mind that the state is already caught up in two foreign wars, it can't afford to be fighting its own people. eliotn:What arguments would their burecrats use to justify what they are doing? Whatever they could. Nonetheless, they'd have an exceedingly difficult time trying to cover it up.
Remember Waco? They don't need to be right. Or even have a real argument. All they need is the ability to make baseless accusations and have talking heads repeat them. This they have. If they can do it to Branch Davidians they can do it to Anarcho-Capitalists.
Waco happened in 1993, the government has expanded a great deal since then, and alongside that so has resentment. Also, the USA wasn't involved in wars nearly to the same extent it has since there. Moreover today's economic condition is far worse.
But the biggest factor is simply the internet, if that sort of thing were to happen today in a regular town (as opposed to a bunch of "religious nuts") the consequences for government legitimacy would be far more severe.
Imagine that 4 towns each a good distance from one another were to secede at the same time, granting the same ownership of "their" land (e.g. roads) for the time being however simple refusing to pay taxes and abide by the rules of the state, but otherwise remain peaceful.
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