From: jamesd@netcom.com (James A. Donald)
Date: Sun, 21 Aug 94 10:58:47 PDT
To: solman@MIT.EDU (Jason W Solinsky)
Subject: Re: Voluntary Governments?
In-Reply-To: <9408210848.AA05354@ua.MIT.EDU>
Message-ID: <199408211758.KAA15344@netcom12.netcom.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


From: Hal
> > 
> > What does it mean to speak of a government in cyberspace?  It is the 
> > government in physical space I fear.  Its agents carry physical guns 
> > which shoot real bullets.

Jason W Solinsky writes
> It depends on the government. You could set up a government to....

You could set up a "government" to make shoes.   If they do not use
guns they are not a government.  If somebody does not make shoes
he is not a shoemaker.  Governments are in the business of violence. 

> Both of these examples are similar in that they are coercive. If you want
> to conduct business with the governments citizens you have to obey all the
> laws. But no force is involved. The will of the government is effected
> entirely by economics. 

And if I wish to conduct business in a shopping mall, either as customer
or shopkeeper, I have to abide by the mall rules.  This does not
make the mall a government.


-- 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
We have the right to defend ourselves and our
property, because of the kind of animals that we              James A. Donald
are.  True law derives from this right, not from
the arbitrary power of the omnipotent state.                jamesd@netcom.com