http://www.reason.com/news/show/132942.html

This is where the Constitutionalist/Libertarian…Me…
and the Anarchist…You…can agree. We disagree over who the “bad guys are”…so be it.

But until such time that merchant shipping is allowed adequate defense…I lean toward a continued Naval (military) presence. (I know you probably won’t agree, but somebody has to defend unarmed people…)

Anarchist, in my case.

If you check out the comments on this topic, some are claiming that the “volunteer coast guard” have a perfectly legitimate right to commit the criminal actions they are engaged in.

Yes, except they are not criminal actions.

Criminals, like the boats that are dumping nuclear waste off the Somali coast, do have the right to arm themselves for protection.

However, they have no right to engage in aggression.

Regardless of who you or I think are the bad guys, I think we both agree that all of them should have the right to be armed; we only disagree about who the bad guys are.

If you check out the comments on this topic, some are claiming that the “volunteer coast guard” have a perfectly legitimate right to commit the criminal actions they are engaged in.

I’m not buying it…

Under the “rules” we currently live under, (including various treaties, and agreements) merchant vessels are prohibited (unless acting independently, placing themselves at the mercy of foreign government weapons law) from arming themselves. This means that, unless we just leave them in a lawless area…unarmed…that the US and other countries must defend these vessels.

Therefore, Barr’s opinion is right as far as I am concerned. But again…and almost everyone seems to see this as a bad thing…Merchant ships should be allowed to defend themselves, largely ending the need for military intervention.

Which anarchists oppose the right of self defense? I don’t know of any.

Anyone who claims to be an anarchist but advocates the existence of a government (and one taking regulatory enforcement actions, no less, as is the case we’re discussing here) is not an anarchist at all. No more so than a Christian who does not believe in God or Christ and disavows the bible is a Christian at all. That’s not to say that such people don’t exist. They do. I’m one. But I don’t go around calling myself a Christian anyways.

But as I have said earlier, and he adds as his last point, our merchant ships have the right to self-defense, and we should make/demand changes that will allow this…

Our Constitution granted congress powers : To define and punish Piracies and Felonies on the high seas, and Offenses against the Laws of Nations.

Until anarchists (with or without the various prefixes and suffixes) can amend or abolish the Constitution…it is the document that sets the “tone” for the laws and actions of our Country. A document that I think outlines the best governmental system ever devised.

But I still don’t understand why anarchists (and their variations) are opposed to allowing merchant vessels to their RIGHT of self defense…

Ironically, this is the first time I’ve noticed he identifies himself as the “Libertarian Party” POTUS candidate.

PEACE

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/opinion/stories/2009/04/15/barred0415.html

Paulie: It appear that link is already down. It is also here:

http://www.linnabary.us/wordpress/?p=31

PEACE

http://www.thelibertyvoice.com/?p=671

More to come!

PEACE

you need to get away from the trappings of the state and think about free market / entrepreneurial solutions to everyday problems.

Thanks for the interesting perspective without biting my head off

Still not sold on what I imagine to be a huge leap of faith in the human condition, but myself and others in our little political movement also have not been at this for as long as most of the people here. So in other words, we are new to such things.

governments/clans – the monopoly over force in these areas. the free market can provide these things, people can carry guns, government ends up going tyrannical after awhile

irrational culture – religion, for example. but I know there are many religious libertarians, so I won’t go there lol