1st Installment - Government's Monopoly

(2010-02-19)
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Q:  What is the distinguishing feature of government?


A:  Government has a legal monopoly on the use of coercive violence.


When analyzing that Q&A, the first thing to keep in mind is that I have attempted to use precise words. Thus, it is “the distinguishing feature of government”, not “a distinguishing feature”. Similarly, it’s “coercive violence”, not all forms of violence.


Government’s monopoly on the use of coercive violence is a truly awesome power.


Q:  How is this power implemented in the real world?

A:  It is applied by

 
these guys

and these guys

 
and these guys

All of these government agents perform an absolutely crucial function. They protect us from

 
this

 
and this

 
and this

 
and this

Our Founders understood this central role of government and they stated it quite clearly and eloquently in the Declaration of Independence

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

That point bears repeating:


The purpose of government is to secure our rights.


(BTW – they are OUR, rights, our UNALIENABLE rights. Government doesn’t give them to us, but it is the primary duty of government to protect these rights.)


We now understand the awesome power that We the People have assigned to our government and the purpose for which this power has been granted.