Economics: Muh Roadz

[Speaker to Animals]

You are coming at me all wrong, Donny. I am larping as Starship Troopers right now.

[Fife]

Fife, please.
You’re out of your element.

Good one; I understand that you get a special citation at Flounder Academy for misplaced TBL references.

IIRC, it's the That's Just Like, Your Opinion, Man Oak Cluster. Keep your chin up, you'll get there.

We’ll all get there, on roads provided by government.
As it pains you to the depths of your soul to admit.

Pains??

At what point did I not admit that I drove on a state road this morning, and will again this afternoon? Earth to Flounder U. students: Nobody has said that a state highway is impossible, or that is not the structure we currently enjoy.

You're running a mile a minute away from your "hierarchy = government" hooey, and that's the best BS accusation you can throw at me?

Instead, why don't you give me a sentence or two about how a voluntary hierarchy between a man and his landlord (or boss; or old lady) is the exact same thing as an involuntary hierarchical relationship between a Seattle landowner and the Seattle City Council when it comes to infrastructure for smack addicts and pushers? A Flounder U. scholar should be able to knock that out in about 60 seconds of walking around time.

[DBTrek]

I’m not running away from anything. I flattened you with hierarchy is government, and you’ve now accepted it and moved on to “voluntary vs involuntary” hierarchy. The problem with that is authority (a key component in hierarchy) requires one party to be able to FORCE compliance with their orders. That means voluntary doesn’t enter into the equation. If no one can be forced to comply, there is no authority, ergo no hierarchy.

Bam!

Conspiracy/Fantasy world demolished.

[Fife]

I’m not running away from anything. I flattened you with hierarchy is government, and you’ve now accepted it and moved on to “voluntary vs involuntary” hierarchy. The problem with that is authority (a key component in hierarchy) requires one party to be able to FORCE compliance with their orders. That means voluntary doesn’t enter into the equation. If no one can be forced to comply, there is no authority, ergo no hierarchy.

Bam!

Conspiracy/Fantasy world demolished.

Who forced you to go to Amazon.com? Who forced you to go to work?

[DBTrek]

Who forced me to go to Amazon?

Dude, it’s shark week, not shark JUMPING week.
You high AF.


(Apparently I’ve been conscripted into Amazon’s hierarchy somehow)

[Fife]

Or, All contracts = government

I'd say "no you high AF" but that would be piling on at this point, especially for a Flounder gold star student. Peace and good luck with your studies.

[DBTrek]

Contracts have to be enforced by an authority.
Otherwise they’re just bad poetry.


And societies built upon jointly-authored bad poetry don’t exist, nor do they build roads. Every time you twist yourself into a new pretzel, the same ol’ truth is right there staring you in the face.

[Fife]

Heh

[Speaker to Animals]

Can you please name a civilization where paved road networks were not maintained by the state?

You want private individuals to control the core infrastructure of civilization, making life and death decisions for its economy, totally unaccountable since there is no state, and operating under the outrageous idea that the highest moral good is for them to do whatever profits them personally the most, regardless of the consequences to the civilization.

Does that not about sum it up, or no? Where am I wrong?

[Fife]

Who currently "controls the core infrastructure of civilization, making life and death decisions for its economy," and how are those people held accountable for their decisions?