What do you think of a ten-part resource designed to convert minarchists into anarchists? It would be nice to have a link to a resources page to throw out whenever a new minarchist comes along, instead of digging the horse out of the ground and beating it to death yet one more time.
Here's my preliminary idea:
Do you have any comments? Any articles you think should be added? Should the order be changed?
LibertarianAnarchy.com - Government is immoral, unnecessary, and doesn't work!
This.
But good idea, and nice selection of articles. I'll think of some more if I can, but the Hasnas article is a must if you ask me. Perhaps one of Hoppe's articles comparing monarchy to democracy (On Monarchy, Democracy and the Idea of a Natural Order) might be useful for delegitimizing the latter. Long's "The Nature of Law" may also be quite good.
Maybe Osterfeld's Internal Inconsistencies in Arguments for Government and Anthony de Jasay has some good arguments against the minimal state. Perhaps some empirical work such as that of Leeson might be useful.
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"
Bob Dylan
Yeah, the Hasnas one might be especially effective on Constitutionalists. I think the Friedman article is dispensable, since it basically covers the same stuff as Rothbard's.
GilesStratton:the Hasnas article is a must if you ask me.
Agreed.
I think what is missing in most of our educational endeavours is that we try to tell people things instead of answering their questions.
I don't know if you folks are all a lot smarter than me (possible) but most people can't start reading Rothbard when they have barely read at all since high school.
Things really need to be broken down into very small, very simple ideas as an introduction or companion to the authoritative texts.
Too often, we resort to authority because we presume amongst ourselves that we know the sources, so that isn't too bad. But with people completely oblivious to these perspectives, those appeals need to be made with a lot of care IMO.
Something I do when testing my sales spiels IRL, is to get someone who barely know how to use a computer, and have them look at my web page, and see if they can figure out how to click through and place an order. If they can't get it, I can't be sure more advanced users will either.
If you find something evil that wobbles, push it. - Gary North
I think another big mistake we make is to assume that we should be going after people with established ideologies. I think if the material is clear and simple enough for people who have no political ideology, then it should be able to communicate simple truths to people with more developed stances.
A good testing ground for any minarchist material however would be the RPF. Collaborate with Conza and Krazy Kaju. They are both active over there. They might be able to help you market test and refine your approach.
I edited my post above, in case you miss it. I think you need to get a good mix in there, arguments concerning economics, political philosophy, ethics and perhaps even sociology. That said 10 may not be enough, so economics and political philosophy might have to suffice.
Im fairly new and I enjoyed and was able to understand "Economics in One Lesson" I know everyone recommends it but it cannot be recommended enough imo. I have suggested anyoen interested in this kind of stuff to read it.
liberty student:A good testing ground for any minarchist material however would be the RPF. Collaborate with Conza and Krazy Kaju. They are both active over there. They might be able to help you market test and refine your approach.
That's not such a bad idea, it'll be worthwhile making sure the list is complete first though. But I agree that the marketing might be useful. But even amongst minarchists there are a lot of different views, so it might be worthwhile having one list for most constitutionalists and another life for most LP types.
liberty student:I think what is missing in most of our educational endeavours is that we try to tell people things instead of answering their questions. I don't know if you folks are all a lot smarter than me (possible) but most people can't start reading Rothbard when they have barely read at all since high school.
Well, I think if someone is a Constitutionalist and is interested in arguing against anarchism, it's a given they're at least reading something, e.g. Rand, Milton Friedman.
In my view, it's important to emphasize that it is nothing special when someone becomes a minarchist and thinks "anarchy could never work." That's nothing new. We've all been there, and we've all come out as anarchists. There's nothing magical about becoming an anarchist; you just read these articles, abandon your statist fallacies, and there you are.
liberty student:I think another big mistake we make is to assume that we should be going after people with established ideologies.
Our strategy doesn't have to be confined exclusively to converting from one ideology. This list is aimed at minarchists. We could (and should) also have lists aimed at the uncommitted, leftists, etc. Minarchists are pretty easy because they already understand basic economics.
GilesStratton:That said 10 may not be enough
The list shouldn't be too long. And ten is a good number; as George Carlin put it, "ten sounds official, ten sounds important!"
We could always add a "Further Reading" section.
Sage:The list shouldn't be too long. And ten is a good number; as George Carlin put it, "ten sounds official, ten sounds important!"
Come to think of it, you're correct. I think there should be some sort of progression, the list should begin with why minarchism doesn't/ can't/ won't/ hasn't worked (and perhaps why it'd be undesirable if it did). Followed by why we should advocate anarchism and how it would work (and perhaps how it has in the past), and then answers to any objections.
By the way, if anybody would be interest I'd also be willing to help compile lists aimed at other groups.
Sage:Minarchists are pretty easy because they already understand basic economics.
Have you spent any time on the C4L, Infowars or RPF? That's where the libertarian minarchists are. These people are not really into "doing the knowledge". A lot of it is worship of the Constitution, and Ron Paul as a modern day Founding Father.
Sage:There's nothing magical about becoming an anarchist; you just read these articles, abandon your statist fallacies, and there you are.
If it was that easy. Just read the articles, abandon the fallacies, ... Profit! lol
I admire your energy, even if I think the strategy presumes too much about your target audience.
Also, check this out: http://mises.org/Community/forums/t/948.aspx
One of the best posts on these forums that I've seen.
I would suggest perhaps putting No Treason by Lysander Spooner first because you want to cause them to question their very base of political theory, namely the Constitution. Very excellent list thought. Kudos for thinking of this.
'It is difficult to imagine any normal person wishing to meet Marx for a third time.' - Alexander Gray, The Socialist Tradition
liberty student:Have you spent any time on the C4L, Infowars or RPF? That's where the libertarian minarchists are. These people are not really into "doing the knowledge". A lot of it is worship of the Constitution, and Ron Paul as a modern day Founding Father.
No, but my brother does. I imagine posting this on DP would be like throwing a firecracker into a bee's nest.
liberty student:If it was that easy. Just read the articles, abandon the fallacies, ... Profit! lol I admire your energy, even if I think the strategy presumes too much about your target audience.
Haha. You're probably right. But that was my experience, although it's likely atypical. Having an extensive FAQ would no doubt be helpful.
Hero-worship/hagiography along with the Constitution is nothing new
Sage,
Do you mind if I post this in the Ron Paul forums? Or have you already taken to the task?
Something that needs to emphasized is really the utter impossibility of limited government remaining limited. (Hoppe's peice for example) That is what caused me to finally join the ancap cause, not any established idealogy.
LS I say again, you're being too harsh on the Infowars types. I was apart of that crowd for a long time, despite knowing of Rothbard from Chroincles magazine.
Semper Fidelis
I'm planning on making this into a full article, with intro, conclusion, short summaries, and a "Further Reading" section. I want this to be the short-version minarchist debunker. Rest assured, the minarchists will see this in the near future.
But if you want to post it now, I don't think it matters.
sicsempertyrannis: (Hoppe's peice for example) That is what caused me to finally join the ancap cause, not any established idealogy.
Yeah, that piece helped me a great deal too. I think I might try to compile one that might appeal to conservatives, any suggestions?
I can think of Feser's Hayek on Tradition and his other piece for the JLS. Hoppe's got some good works on this subject and Mr Tucker and Mr Rockwell's piece on Mises as a cultural conservative.
Sage, let me know when the final list is done, I want to see what it looks like. I'll look for some more articles to go in the further reading section and if you need any other help let me know.
Sage: I'm planning on making this into a full article, with intro, conclusion, short summaries, and a "Further Reading" section. I want this to be the short-version minarchist debunker. Rest assured, the minarchists will see this in the near future. But if you want to post it now, I don't think it matters.
Don't want to steal your thunder. The Lysander Spooner work is what made me change from Libertarian to An-Cap
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