Raymond G. Van De Walker wrote:
> On Mon, 24 May 1999 11:47:55 -0500 "Billy Brown" <bbrown@conemsco.com>
> >writes:
> >The other fundamental barrier I see is the problem of
> >restraining the
> >use of force in the anarchist society. The problem is that market
> >mechanisms
> >are the only available means for restraining violence in an
> >anarchy . .
> <snip>
>
> But the market is powerful. I read about historical and current anarchic
> economic systems that regulate force by means of boycotts: The Law
> Merchant did this, and still does. For example, if a government refuses
> to repay foreign loans, my understanding is that currency traders then
> boycott that country. The result is that the country becomes unable to
> trade. Sovereignty is irrelevant.
This is possible only because the traders are able to hide behind the military power of other sovereign states. Notice that such things only happen in *international* trade - if you live within the territory that a government controls, it will use force to prevent you from doing anything it doesn't like.
Billy Brown, MCSE+I
bbrown@conemsco.com