Comments on: A Barometer of Order

By: Bruce Charlton

Bruce Charlton — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:57:15 +0000

You think that you have a realistic assessment of how bad things are, you think that you are a pessimist - then you see something like this, and then you realize that — compared with what is actually happening — you are living in a deluded Disneyland of the sunniest dewy-eyed optimism. When piracy is relabeled a human rights issue then relabeling mass starvation, epidemic and violence as vibrant democracy is facile. We might well be some way into the actual collapse already. Would we even know about it unless it affected us specifically? (Answer: no.) And if it did affect us, would anyone believe us? (Answer: no. It would be re-framed.)

By: BJ

BJ — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:51:16 +0000

Also, if any of the sea-steading folks set up an ocean colony miles out in international waters, I’m sure the US government would crush it and allow no escape from USG’s sovereignty. We just can’t use force against underprivilged inner-city pirates or undocumented working ones. Enforcing an embargo on the stateless helots or untouchables of Gaza or whichever by gunning down a peaceful vessel is also okay. So you need a better analysis than an broadly unconfident state. The state has no problem contracting industrial prisons in the US to house nonviolent offenders, which private prisons also lobby law enforcement…

Just a few thoughts.

By: BJ

BJ — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:46:01 +0000

If the pirates were operating out of Russia or Iran, would we have any problem ruthlessly supressing them? would Britain tolerate British pirates? Come on, common sense. The state is very confident in exercizing its prerogatives against lowly citizens and taxpayers, productive lawbiding citizens, just not lawless Somalis — or illegal aliens, for that matter.

Look at US diplomatic support for the storming of a peaceful vessel in international waters by Israel.

By: Bruce Charlton

Bruce Charlton — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:53:51 +0000

Thanks for the link.

By: Alrenous

Alrenous — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:38:09 +0000

It’s actually worse than that. As Lind mentions, the pirates use boats. They could be sunk with small arms. Similarly, you can safely assume they’re cowards who’ll run from anyone who will shoot back, and reports back that up. (Frankly, they’d be stupid not to.)

States are not only failing to police the waters; they’re actively preventing the merchant ships from defending themselves.

That said, I approve of Somali piracy, because (a) it beats having a Somali government, and (b) anyone who sails around the horn without being willing to defend themselves deserves what they get.