23A007 ...and What About X, Y and Z? by Jim Davies, 2/14/2023

Those doubting the wisdom of dispensing with all government may ask how we could possibly manage without some specified, important work done by the State. On 1/3/2023 we considered Defense, and showed that a zero government society (ZGS) would provide one far better in the unlikely case that it was needed, then on 1/17/2023 did the same for Justice, showing that at present there is none. To round out this theme, today let's admit that most folk have a favorite function or two, without which they would feel fearful and deprived.

The State does thousands of things, so I can't address them all. Elsewhere I've offered remarks about roads, schools, Social Security and health care - four very important examples - but for the rest, let's refer to them just as X, Y or Z. A vast miscellany of tasks that the State has gradually monopolized, taking them out of the market and providing them by compulsion whether wanted or not.

But nearly always, somebody wants a few of them. So they all persist, and we're all taxed to pay for them all.

After government has evaporated, those desires will remain, and the market will certainly consider each one. Potential suppliers will ask whether the desire is just a wish, or a true market demand (ie, the wish plus the money.) If it's just a wish for some good or service provided someone else pays for it, they will pass; but nothing in true demand will fail to get done.

Meantime, it's a bit like the old paradox of the monkey and the cookie jar. It has a narrow neck, and the monkey sees a tasty morsel within. He puts his hand inside to reach it, closes the fingers around it, and tries to pull it out. But now his hand is like a fist, too large to fit through the opening.

If you really want the cookie you have to let it go and try another method (eg, tip the jar completely upside down) But monkeys, being monkeys, cannot always work that out. We have to help those with immature brains to apply reason.

Try this: first recognize that you're paying government (at all levels) about half of everything you earn, so you're its slave until the middle of each Wednesday; and you suffer intrusion and control every day of the week. That's a fact; that's the price, of the various XYZ cookies you want.

Now imagine that XYZ were offered by non-government suppliers, in competition with others, ready for you to buy if you wish. What would be their prices? Add them up. That's what you'd spend.

Now compare that total with half of everything you earn. Which cost is higher?