I’m Sorry But I Just Don’t Get Seasteading

Here’s another Tax Day post.
As person who enjoys highly theoretical or just plan off-the-wall propositions, it pains me to say that I just don’t get seasteading.
If you’re not familiar with it, this is a radical libertarian venture that aims to build libertarian city-states…are you ready…floating on the high seas. Think of John Galt, but on a raft.
I don’t want to be too dismissive of seasteading. Here’s Patri Friedman making the case.
For myself, count me out. First, I do in fact love my country and feel loyalty to it no matter how batty its laws are. Secondly, I share Arnold Kling’s thought that a lot problems we have on land will follow them at sea.
Still, I think dry land is the way to go. I would try to hunt for some speck in the Pacific Ocean. There are about a billion islands out there just waiting to be made into a libertarian paradise. Come to think of it, I never saw much government on Gilligan’s Island or Lost.
The U.S. has a bunch of possessions out there. So do France and Britain. Why not try to buy one? The Northern Mariana Islands have a couple of uninhabited islands (see Pagan Island).
Even if you don’t want to buy one, just go there and set up your own community. When someone official starts to bother you, do what everyone else does—secede. Sure, that will involve some government, but probably less than running a big boat.

Posted by on April 15th, 2009 at 4:52 pm


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