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Who benefits more from the existence of a state (and organized government): the rich or the poor?
In a state of anarchy, who has more to lose - the rich or the poor?
Just from personal experience, observing our society, and traveling around the world, it seems to me that rich people actually derive more benefits from the existence of organized government than the poor do. In anarchic societies, poor people don't have much to lose since - by definition - they own little to nothing of monetary value (other than their lives, of course). But rich people are at risk of losing not only their lives but their possessions/wealth as well.
The existence of a police force to maintain social order benefits the rich more than it does the poor. The police is obligated to protect both the lives of the rich and poor with equal devotion, but since the rich also have property that need to be shielded from theft, the police will have to consume more resources to fulfill this added function. The rich and their property are therefore more costly to the state than the poor and property-less.
These observations have implications on tax policy. Taxes are the lifeblood of the state; they enable the state to fulfill its functions. Since the rich require more attention than the poor (due to the need to protect their lives and property), it is only logical that the rich should pay higher taxes. Progressive taxation is not redistribution of wealth from rich to poor. It is making the rich pay for the cost of servicing their needs which rises in proportion to their wealth.
Who benefits more from the existence of a state (and organized government): the rich or the poor?
In a state of anarchy, who has more to lose - the rich or the poor?
Just from personal experience, observing our society, and traveling around the world, it seems to me that rich people actually derive more benefits from the existence of organized government than the poor do. In anarchic societies, poor people don't have much to lose since - by definition - they own little to nothing of monetary value (other than their lives, of course). But rich people are at risk of losing not only their lives but their possessions/wealth as well.
The existence of a police force to maintain social order benefits the rich more than it does the poor. The police is obligated to protect both the lives of the rich and poor with equal devotion, but since the rich also have property that need to be shielded from theft, the police will have to consume more resources to fulfill this added function. The rich and their property are therefore more costly to the state than the poor and property-less.
These observations have implications on tax policy. Taxes are the lifeblood of the state; they enable the state to fulfill its functions. Since the rich require more attention than the poor (due to the need to protect their lives and property), it is only logical that the rich should pay higher taxes. Progressive taxation is not redistribution of wealth from rich to poor. It is making the rich pay for the cost of servicing their needs which rises in proportion to their wealth.
Feudalism and monarchies were basically anarchies for the rich, and corporatism and fascism are modern attempts by the rich and powerful to overtake the state, if not by eliminating it, then by privileged overpowering influence. I call it "Serfin' USA".
You're right of course, only the extremely wealthy could afford their own police and fire security. But they better not drink their water or eat their food anymore, salmonella is an equal opportunity disease.
Feudalism and monarchies were basically anarchies for the rich, and corporatism and fascism are modern attempts by the rich and powerful to overtake the state, if not by eliminating it, then by privileged overpowering influence.
Good point. I could not think of any modern state that was actually organized by poor people. All modern states were organized by their respective elites (and that includes the US). Why is that? It's because the elites understood that an organized state was more beneficial to them and their property than the state of anarchy.
Good point. I could not think of any modern state that was actually organized by poor people. All modern states were organized by their respective elites (and that includes the US). Why is that? It's because the elites understood that an organized state was more beneficial to them and their property than the state of anarchy.
Both good points. This is why big business is so involved in politics giving billions of dollars to politicians, pretty much controlling many of them, and the country.
Just look right now the stock market is doing well, which shows the money is out there, the rich are doing well, but the average to poor are doing terribly. The top won't "trickle down" unless they need to, to make themselves more money. In a state of anarchy, the rich will pull all funds, pack up and leave everyone else to fend for themselves.
If there was no state, the economy would collapse. So, I think that the rich would lose more if the state disappeared.
Nonsense. Ireland had no government for 400 years. When Cromwell and the English took over they found that the Irish were the wealthiest and most advanced society in Western Europe.
Even Somalia, as poor as it is, is better in the part not controlled by government.
Compare that to state controlled economies like Cuba, North Korea or the former Soviet Union. It's pretty easy to see the less the state involves itself in the economy the better her denizens are.
Even Somalia, as poor as it is, is better in the part not controlled by government.
Southern Somalia is in a state of civil war. Mogadishu is carved up between militias and a foreign 'peacekeeping' force. Somaliland - the portion up north with an elected government - is far better-off.
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