Libertarianism and Externalities – Sam Harris REBUTTED

by | May 5, 2020

Externalities occur in markets, but they also exist in governments. Government is the ultimate negative externality- they impose costs on non-consenting third parties.

The existence of externalities does NOT justify the existence of a state- or any form of mass violent domination.  It’s the equivalent of saying- “Externalities exist. Therefore the Koch Brothers have the right to coercively involve themselves in voluntary exchanges and take 25% of everyone’s income annually, anyone who disobey’s rules made by the Koch Brothers should be put in a cage and shot if they resist.”

Keith Knight

Keith Knight

Keith Knight is Managing Editor at the Libertarian Institute, host of the Don't Tread on Anyone podcast and editor of The Voluntaryist Handbook: A Collection of Essays, Excerpts, and Quotes.

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