OK, we're together on that.
>>As for gun control, I take no position. I think it is silly to think that
>>a militia of ordinary citizens armed with hunting rifles,s hotguns, and
>>even handguns can take on a modern army with attack helicopters and tanks,
>>but hey, if it would make the people feel better, they are perfectly free
>>to legislate an individual right to bear arms.
>
>It's been a serious question in nations such as Afghanistan, where all men
>seem to be well armed and modern states have failed to develop. It may
>become a serious question for all of us, in the age of asymmetrical
>conflict (recall how far determined men could go with box cutters).
>Setting aside such extreme cases, given the fragile politico-economic
>conditions, many nations have been plunged into or come to the brink of
>civil war. It seems monopoly of violence is not easy to achieve.
Yeah, well in those conditions socialism isn't on the agenda either.
>
>>>Will there be a standing army and police forever?
>>
>>Police, probably. A standing army might not be necessary in a just world.
>>
>>>Will there always be violence -- rape, murder, domestic violence,
>>>aggravated assault, etc. -- whose suppression demands the use of force,
>>>regardless of the presence and absence of exploitation and oppressions?
>>
>>Yes. Sorry to be the one to to tell you. Also, violence aside, you need to
>>be able to back coart orders with coercion, even if it rarely necessary to
>>use it.
>
>What causes such interpersonal violence, then, if not exploitation and
>oppressions? Disorders in brain chemicals?
Dunno. But you can't count on it disappearing, just being reduced. As I say, violence isn't the main concern of a civilized state.
>
>As for the enforcement of court orders, don't weight of customs, fear of
>social ostracism, etc. -- i.e., coercion without police forces -- work just
>as well, in rare cases where coercion is indeed necessary?
Not in a large complex liberal society where citizens have a variety of ends. We're not talking about socialism in one village.
jks
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