From: Dehede011@aol.com
Date: Wed Oct 04 2000 - 10:44:16 MDT
In a message dated 10/4/00 9:29:48 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
Spudboy100@aol.com writes:<< Capitalism as a system has always required
coercion, i.e. governments, simply to exist, if only to enforce contracts. >>
Spudboy,
That is close to a central truth but is capable of being looked at from
more than one viewpoint. If you regard the government as the legitimate
repository of force and the government decides to make it illegal for its
citizenry to use force on each other then the government protects its
citizens against violence. That includes not only direct physical force but
theft as well; not fulfilling a contract is only a form of theft.
Capitalism arises then from a moral position. If force is not allowed
the only way we can exchange goods and services is through trade or charity.
So, capitalism is not founded on violence it is the result of not being
able to initiate force. Just the opposite of what you said.
Ron H.
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