Post by Rob Sandwell on Oct 20, 2008 0:52:21 GMT -5
Here's an excerpt from a thread I contributed to on slavery in an anarcho-capitalistic society. The thread can be found here, freedomainradio.com/board/forums/t/16560.aspx?PageIndex=1. My post is in response to the question of whether or not slavery would be an inevitable part of any society where it is not actively discouraged by the state.
I think one of the strongest arguements against the widespread existence of slavery in an anarcho-capitalistic society is that it just isn't economically feasible over a long period of time. Even when supported by the state, history shows us that instances of slavery decrease, as technology improves and economies flourish. There was a reason that slavery was, and still is today, more prevalent in countries and parts of countries with fewer technological resources. Slavery was most profitable when financially supported by the state, backed by a commonly held belief that those in slavery were somehow inferior genetically, and when their labor was being used in low skilled, menial labor. Even in America during slavery, it was most common in the agricultural industries. This isn't because farmers were somehow more evil than other men, it was because slave labor, and it's associated costs such as security, clothing, and food, were not profitable when compared with the costs of hiring payed employees who would willing provide goods and services for an agreed upon wage and who competed for those wages through their performance. And this is under a system where the money those employees worked for held a fraction of its ultimate purchasing power when compared with a stateless society.
I agree that there exists some slim possibility that there would be some limited instances of slavery in a system where it is not actively discouraged by the state. Unfortunately, even under the state system, these instances still occur. What's more, as mentioned earlier in the thread, every man is a slave under the state system, and there is no one who can intercede on his behalf with his master.
-Rob
I think one of the strongest arguements against the widespread existence of slavery in an anarcho-capitalistic society is that it just isn't economically feasible over a long period of time. Even when supported by the state, history shows us that instances of slavery decrease, as technology improves and economies flourish. There was a reason that slavery was, and still is today, more prevalent in countries and parts of countries with fewer technological resources. Slavery was most profitable when financially supported by the state, backed by a commonly held belief that those in slavery were somehow inferior genetically, and when their labor was being used in low skilled, menial labor. Even in America during slavery, it was most common in the agricultural industries. This isn't because farmers were somehow more evil than other men, it was because slave labor, and it's associated costs such as security, clothing, and food, were not profitable when compared with the costs of hiring payed employees who would willing provide goods and services for an agreed upon wage and who competed for those wages through their performance. And this is under a system where the money those employees worked for held a fraction of its ultimate purchasing power when compared with a stateless society.
I agree that there exists some slim possibility that there would be some limited instances of slavery in a system where it is not actively discouraged by the state. Unfortunately, even under the state system, these instances still occur. What's more, as mentioned earlier in the thread, every man is a slave under the state system, and there is no one who can intercede on his behalf with his master.
-Rob