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As an economist I assure you that if I noted a correlation between head clubbing and capital accumulation I would take offensive and defensive steps to protect

As an economist I assure you that if I noted a correlation between head clubbing and capital accumulation I would take offensive and defensive steps to protect my head. In fact most would, leading to a nice little equilibrium where head clubbing is not a worthwhile strategy. They may even form a protection racket, and call it "Police". Economics is not the study of capital, it's the study of trade - which incidentally is so natural we even observe it in the animal kingdom. Few libertarians would deny the need for at least occasional collaboration, but that is not the same as government. Governments are universally wasteful of resources, susceptible to corruption, resistant to changing needs, and have a nasty habit of claiming absolute moral authority on things...which in turn has a nasty tendency to start wars. It is, objectively, a limiting and archaic system that does us all a great deal of damage.

ihnorton 13y ago
The beauty of this protection racket equilibrium is that everyone gets exactly the amount of protection they can afford. This leads to rapid and efficient re-allocation of resources (via the mafia/police) when inefficient organizations cannot meet their obligations.
rayiner 13y ago
> As an economist I assure you that if I noted a correlation between head clubbing and capital accumulation I would take offensive and defensive steps to protect my head. With what? You're an economist, not an MMA fighter. > In fact most would, leading to a nice little equilibrium where head clubbing is not a worthwhile strategy. They may even form a protection racket, and call it "Police". Right, so the nerds get together and beat down the MMA fighters and create laws against "murder" and "theft" and pretty soon you've got government. We're living in your nice little equilibrium.
- clienthunter 13y ago
  > With what? You're an economist, not an MMA fighter. A) you don't know that, B) everyone else would be an MMA fighter? > Right, so the nerds get together and beat down the MMA fighters and create laws against "murder" and "theft"... Premise construction > ...and pretty soon you've got government. Magic > We're living in your nice little equilibrium. Conclusion I can't even accuse you basing your argument on a logical fallacy, because there isn't an argument present.

ihnorton 13y ago

The beauty of this protection racket equilibrium is that everyone gets exactly the amount of protection they can afford. This leads to rapid and efficient re-allocation of resources (via the mafia/police) when inefficient organizations cannot meet their obligations.

rayiner 13y ago

> As an economist I assure you that if I noted a correlation between head clubbing and capital accumulation I would take offensive and defensive steps to protect my head. With what? You're an economist, not an MMA fighter. > In fact most would, leading to a nice little equilibrium where head clubbing is not a worthwhile strategy. They may even form a protection racket, and call it "Police". Right, so the nerds get together and beat down the MMA fighters and create laws against "murder" and "theft" and pretty soon you've got government. We're living in your nice little equilibrium.

clienthunter 13y ago
> With what? You're an economist, not an MMA fighter. A) you don't know that, B) everyone else would be an MMA fighter? > Right, so the nerds get together and beat down the MMA fighters and create laws against "murder" and "theft"... Premise construction > ...and pretty soon you've got government. Magic > We're living in your nice little equilibrium. Conclusion I can't even accuse you basing your argument on a logical fallacy, because there isn't an argument present.