A question about individual rights IS the discussion that matters. Ignoring that in the name of some collectivist (and authoritarian) solution to "inequality" has led to massive amounts of oppression, even mass murder.
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I should clarify that the inequality I am referring to is the inequality of power - if no state exists and a mob of individuals agree to rob their neighbors, what will stop them? What is the 'gravity' that prevents evil, in dirtykarma's phraseology.
Our traditional methodology has been to vest a monopoly of the legitimate use of violence in a centralized actor whom everyone must defer to - the state. Perhaps there is another way to achieve this result, I am open to one, but 'natural law' (assuming it even exists) isn't prepackaged with a method of enforcement.
Equal individuals could agree to follow a 'natural law' for their protection and best interests, but if one individual saw himself as capable of subjugating everyone else, why wouldn't he?
WITH the state, EVERYONE is GUARANTEED to get robbed by people with more power than them. If you want to reduce robbery, start by helping people escape the insane notion that "legal" robbery is okay. After that, normal people will have plenty of incentive to organize to defend against private thugs and thieves.
To be blunt, that one individual who saw himself capable of subjugating everyone else wouldn't, because the moment he tried, there would be several million people (including me) ready to put a bullet through him.
Ya. Maybe. Unless a group of people conspired and their opposition didn't group well or resist effectively.
I am with you that the state is robbing people, I just think we need to change the nature of the state, not abolish it. Is it predicated on violence? Yes. Why, though? Because, technically, the state could agree to be moderate in its violations of you in exchange for empowering it, whereas some new ruler might enslave you or rape your wife or something. There are far worse actors in this world than the US government.