David Friedman: 'Trump is a competent demagogue, not a libertarian'

David Friedman, a writer and proponent of anarcho-capitalism, argues that societies can function effectively with minimal or no state intervention. He believes that essential services currently provided by the government could be handled more efficiently by private entities.

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Yes. My position is that, under certain circumstances, you can have a society that functions, in which all the useful things that the state does today can be done privately. And that would probably work better than our current system.

Friedman, who visited Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, explained his philosophy, stating that while the state might perform poorly in areas like car manufacturing or food production, it's equally challenged in creating laws. He advocates for a market-based approach to law creation, similar to how markets provide alternatives for goods and services.

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We expect the government to do a bad job manufacturing cars or producing food. Creating a law is no easier a task than that and if making the law implies a government monopoly, it will probably be done badly.

He acknowledges that a stateless society might face challenges in national defense against aggressive neighbors. However, he points to historical examples, like the 19th century when state size was significantly smaller, as evidence that a gradual reduction in state power is possible. Friedman also cited a U.S. law professor's work on "Order Without Law," describing a California county where neighbors resolved disputes through community norms rather than lawsuits, demonstrating decentralized law enforcement.

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I am a very conservative anarchist in the sense that I do not expect things to change quickly. So, what should be done is to create private institutions that provide better substitutes for the things the state does and, gradually, reduce the role of the state.

Friedman is a "conservative anarchist" who doesn't expect rapid change. He proposes building private institutions that offer better substitutes for state functions, gradually shrinking the state's role. He also sees potential for libertarian interactions online, where voluntary engagement and digital security can mitigate fraud and the risks of physical conflict.

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There are historical experiences. I do not think it is impossible. It could happen online and not in real space. Online interaction is a good place for libertarians because you cannot get shot through the net.