The degrees of government ownership in the economy vary from one country to another, but in all countries the State has made sure that it owns and monopolizes the vital nerve centers, the command posts of the society. It has acquired compulsory monopoly ownership over these command posts, and it has always asserted, without proof, that private ownership and enterprise in these fields is simply and a priori impossible. Such vital command posts are defense, money, rivers and coastal seas, streets and highways, land and the post office. The defense function is particularly vital to the State's existence, for on its virtual monopoly of force depends its ability to extract taxes from its citizens. --Murray N. Rothbard. Man, Economy, and State with Power and Market |
