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I don’t think that’s necessarily true. Government is unique because of its “social license” to govern, meaning that the vast majority of people recognize its au
by baddox 9y ago
I don’t think that’s necessarily true. Government is unique because of its “social license” to govern, meaning that the vast majority of people recognize its authority to do things other people or groups cannot do (like make laws, imprison people, or collect taxes). Corporations don’t have that social license, which is why they need to cozy up with government to take advantage of that unique authority.
- kahnpro 9y agoWithout a government they can start to take this authority themselves in much the same way that local warlords do. Gradually by force, because they have power and you don't. A small / weak government can't do anything to stop them.
- AnimalMuppet 9y agoSmall != weak. Did the US have a large government in 1900? Certainly not by the standards of today. Yet it was still able to take on Standard Oil.
- monocasa 9y agoCorporations are more than happy to take on that mantle if they are able. You saw that with the East India Company's full army and navy, you saw that with company mining towns that issued their own currency and controlled every aspect of their employees lives, you saw that with the Pinkertons investigating and dispatching extrajudicial punishment, and you see that today with Nestle paramilitaries.