> Part of where the standard libertarian argument falls apart, in my eyes, is that government in many ways really is just a scaled up version of "people banding

> Part of where the standard libertarian argument falls apart, in my eyes, is that government in many ways really is just a scaled up version of "people banding together to build a road". There is a significant qualitative difference in that "people banding together to build a road" is an entirely voluntary activity, whereas government is nothing of the kind. It's not merely a matter of "opt-in vs. opt-out". Even in an opt-out system one can choose not to participate without penalty, but if you inform a government that you're choosing to "opt out" they won't just leave you alone to live as you please. They draw their arbitrary lines on a map and consider everything within those lines to fall under their control. Even if you move halfway around the world and renounce your citizenship, and in doing so cut off all ties to everyone and everything you once knew, you may find that they still claim a share of your income to pay for that road you'll never be able to use. The "scaled-up" version of "people banding together to build a road" is a co-op or corporation. Such an organization does not have the power to tax or to impose regulations on anyone who doesn't explicitly and voluntarily agree to them.