Propaganda Or Sheer Ignorance

Below is a letter to the editor published in today's Charlotte Observer. I do not know if the writer is simply clueless or if he is purposefully spreading lies.

Mr. Maier believes that only coercive political government can provide basic services such as police, courts and postal delivery. We Libertarians know better than that.

He trys to compare Kabul, Afghanistan to a libertarian society. How absurd! Libertarianism does not equate to a "government-free" society. A libertarian society would be based on self government. All political associations would be voluntary.

Mr. Maier is right about one thing...there would be no taxes in a libertarian society, only user fees! Each person would pay for the services they used. That includes police, fire, schools, libraries, etc. Yes, Mr. Maier, even in the absence of coercive government, the mail would still run. Schools would be open and our children would actually receive a sound education. Electricity and water would flow throughout our communities.

How do I know this? Since there will always be a demand for the services mentioned above, the market will provide them.

Maybe if our government schools taught students how to think for themselves, people like Mr. Maier would understand basic, free market principles.

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Ah, the joys of a true government-free society

I spent five weeks working in Kabul, Afghanistan, this summer and got a close-up view of a libertarian, government-free society. I think Bill Reeside would love it! First, there are NO TAXES, and that means basically no government.

There are no courts or liberal activist judges to worry about. There are police but they don't get paid, so if you need them, you pay as you go -- like, you know, a bribe. Why didn't we think of that? There's no endless arguing about schools and busing, because there are no schools! That frees the kids to start work at 6 years old hauling water home all day long, because, you guessed it, there's no water system!

Kabul will be a paradise for you, Bill. When you get there be sure to send a postcard. Oops, forgot, no postal system! One less crushing government bureaucracy. But you can send a letter by FEDEX for only $70. Can't beat that free market liberated from government meddling.

Robert Maier