What questions does the free-market view face?
Here are the normal objections:
• What will happen to the kids who can’t afford school?
• What about all the poor and aged? How will they survive?
• Isn’t your version of a society rather harsh to the needy? How can we let them suffer?
If the government’s only role is to define force and to stop it, then what about everything else the government does right now?
In this series I’m explaining my view of a just government.
To read from the beginning click here.
How does a government reduce force in human life? There are two main ways: a legal system (the legislature and the law courts), and a defense system (the police and the military).
A proper government has only these two functions: to define what constitutes the initiation of force, and to stop those who initiate it, be they criminals or invaders.
Over the next several posts I’m going to answer: “What is my exact position on government?”
These posts focus on my conclusions. Later I’ll explain the reasons behind them, but right now I want you to see where I’m going.
In broadest terms, the government’s role is twofold:
To judge between people who claim wrong has been done and to marshal the people in times of war.
It’s a tall claim to say that the Bible supports laissez faire capitalism. Important (even conservative) Christian voices would reject the idea. But it’s the claim I’m making. Over the next several posts I’ll support it.