I recently came across a new movement called Seasteading. The Seasteading Institute is an attempt to "create permanent dwellings on the ocean." Apparently they are using the ocean as the new frontier. By building new cities in international waters they plan on experimenting with alternative styles of "social, political, and legal systems on a small scale."
Instead of trying to change their government from the inside, they will simply create their own nation with their own rules and regulations. Patri Friedman, TSI's Executive Director and son of renowned economist Milton Friedman, states that "the public sector is simultaneously the largest industry in the world and the least innovative, with a barrier to entry and lock-in on its customers that dwarfs any private monopoly."
The authors and most of the supporters seem to also be supporters of minimal government. There is even a whole page on Why should libertarians follow this approach? It may seem like a pipe dream, but philanthropist Peter Thiel has pledged $500,000 to the cause.
I'm still unconvinced this is the route to take. Although I would love to see market competition for good governments, the idea of separating yourself from people who do not agree with you seems like it could have some disastrous results. Is there anything to stop a Seasteading group of polygymists and child molesters?
They realize that Kevin Costner already tried this, right?
ReplyDeletePolygamy and child molestation would be stopped in Libertarian Waterworld by the same thing that what stop it if Libertarians controlled the government - oh right, nothing.
I would assume most libertarians think child molestation is an obstruction of those childrens rights. As for polygamy, yeah your right, they would probably let that one fly.
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