Yaron Brook & Doug Casey Debate The Need For Government–-02-14-2012

Dr. Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institue and Doug Casey of Casey Research joined me today for a lively discussion about the need for government and why it always turns out wrong. Amazingly, these two prominent advocates of personal freedom have never met before. They vehemently disagreed on the possibiliteis of an anarchical society; Doug believes it's the only sensible way for people to co-exist, and Yaron believes it's a sure pathway to tyranny. The discussion then turned to the state's monopoly on force, where Doug's belief is this inevitably leads to grave injustice, and Yaron insists force be taken away from the individual and put into the state's hands with tight controls.

There was clearly no winner or loser in this debate. And there is probably no correct answer to whether or not we can exist without some form of government. The controversy over governmental control and powers has been shifted to a whole new level. It is no longer a question of right versus left, or limited government over leviathan government. It is now an existential issue, should there be a governmental at all? If this question is answered in the affirmative, then it becomes a matter of what powers should government be imbibed with.

The debate will continue, and we hope to see Doug and Yaron face to face at Freedom Fest, Las Vegas for a more in depth view of what will become the issue of our time. 

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