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Tyranny of One, Tyranny of AllSheriffsWritten by Darrell Anderson. I have noticed and paid attention to efforts to pursue more liberty-minded communities. The Free State Project is an example. However, many of these ideas are futile for a simple reason — enforcement. Now, from a strict anarchist perspective the word enforcement might raise some eyebrows. The word enforcement implies force and coercion. That is exactly the context in which I use the word. Only in a true anarchist community would there be no tolerance for initiating aggression — trespass. Even in a minimalist “limited government” aggression would be discouraged. Only acts of self-defense would be considered legitimate uses of force and coercion, and in immediate threats — violence. What, then, is there to enforce? All of these liberty-minded efforts stumble because they try to use the old adage of defeating a system from within. That is, they assume that if just enough people were in key positions of the political system that the tide would turn. People in these positions would not use force and coercion, but would prevent using force and coercion through the avenues of the offices they hold. And that is where the word enforcement comes in. I believe there is only one office that people should initially focus upon. Sheriffs. Whether or not legitimate, consider the power a sheriff possesses. Sheriffs are popularly elected, not appointed. Additionally, regardless what a legislator does, regardless how a judge rules, nothing really matters unless the sheriff is motivated to support such acts. An IRS agent sells a tax lien and the lien holder then attempts to use the sheriff — either directly or through a court declaration — to evict the original titleholder. Or, local tinhorns foreclose property titles based upon the illusionary legal fiction of taxing an object. Such actions are possible only if a sheriff decides to enforce those acts. Suppose an individual who fully understood the principle of not trespassing was elected sheriff. Not a single tax foreclosure would be successful. Not a single ninja-suited raid would be condoned. All victimless crimes become meaningless. There would be a slight conflict of interest for sheriffs. Salaries. Currently, sheriffs are paid through local general property taxes. However, that such salaries are budgeted does not mean such salaries must be accepted. Additionally, nothing stops a sheriff from collecting a salary from the legitimate means of participating in voluntary exchange and contract. Indeed, a sheriff who fully supports the concept of not trespassing likely would have little to do in that county and would pursue those duties as a part-time venture. Or such a sheriff could sign actual contracts with local property owners to provide protection and those landowners could continue supporting the sheriff’s salary. Focus on the office of sheriff and all other efforts to create a liberty-minded community become easier. The illusion of the statist social system is easily exposed when the sheriff refuses to play the game. Indeed, if anarchists and minarchists choose to become involved in the current political process, consider the changes they could cause through this one office. Finis. Next: Twelve Angry Men |
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