How long would a libertarian society survive, and what would kill it?

[gigapimp3001]

it would never happen in any current nation. But in a hostile region (as in hostile to human life) such as the open sea, under the sea or outer space such a system might survive for quite some time. Why, because if you don't keep the payments up you die of starvation/suffocation/radiation or any number of ways.

Of course if nanotechnolgy (look it up, works similar to to Star Trek repilcators but on a sound technological princle) lives up to its expectations then everybody will have the means of production in their hands......and then won't things get interesting!

Basically what I'm saying is a libertarian society is something that might exist in the future (like a democratic communist society and so forth..)

Something which I hope I explored on my site (ahem) http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/comgalaxy/index.html

Sorry but shameless self promotion is part of libertarian society, like the net......hmmm

[Berzerker]

Most people are scared of freedom, dependency is a hard habit to break. You guys seem to revel in this, I think it's sad.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

it would last forever

[Spiffor]

It would fall in two months into general anarchy. The lack of government will be almost immediately overwhelmed by the use of violence made by individuals / mobs. Its likely outcome would be a temporary form of feudalmism where strong mob leaders / warlords would hold power over a chunk of territory.
The former military will probably end the chaos hereafter, and install a military rule. There is a chance this leads to the restoration of the current system, if the military leaders still believe in it.

[GePap]

Obviously Saddam Hussein is a libertarian..

Just look how hard he has worked to insure that he has 100% freedom to do anything he wants in his country....

[Sandman]

It'd probably last for quite a while, long enough for the original founders to die off at least. The country would have become a polluted, feudal, starved wasteland by then of course.

[Spiffor]

I don't get it :
with what forces (and funded with what taxes) a libertarian government would prevent crimes, mass banditism, coups or foreign invasions ?

[Sandman]

I think that they accept the need for some small level of taxation. A sales tax I think.

Their solution to everything else involves armed citizenry, or so I believe.

[Spiffor]

Armed citizenry with nearly no police or military to monitor the groups who get loose ? I fail to see how this could end up in any other way than complete anarchy.
Maybe that could end up in a civil war, if some factions have the time to be made before the chaos puts communication ways offline.

[Sandman]

I fail to see how this could end up in any other way than complete anarchy.

Me too.

[Odin]

Libertarians don't know what the real world is. They need to quit reading an economics textbook and get out of their fantasy world. Face it, Libertarians are wackos.

Libertarianism = Anarchy = Mob rule = Exploitation

[Berzerker]

The advocates of legalised theft complain about mob rule? Were you guys going to actually risk your own necks stealing from others or rely on the mob to do it for you?

The premise behind most of the posts here is that libertarianism cannot survive because the majority won't behave like libertarians. Gee, I'll join you out on that limb. In other words, no sh!t.

But I have learned Saddam is a libertarian because Gepap thinks freedom is practiced by autocratic murderers.

[MRT144]

Originally posted by Berzerker
Most people are scared of freedom, dependency is a hard habit to break. You guys seem to revel in this, I think it's sad.

just like most commiephobes are afraid of public domain.

[Stefu]

So, Berzerker, what you're saying here is the libertarianism doesn't work in real world.

And that's all that's needed to know here, really.

[DarthVeda]

Three little words: Articles of Confederation. Lasted a couple of years if I remember. Then the states realized they were powerless on their own...