Libertarian Paradise
By Life with no government?
“Somalia is a pure free market,” one diplomat told me.
Driving 50km (30 miles) from one of the airstrips near the capital, Mogadishu, to the city, you pass seven checkpoints, each run by a different militia. At each of these “border crossings” all passenger vehicles and goods lorries must pay an “entry fee”, ranging from $3 – $300, depending on the value of the goods being carried – and what the militiamen think they can get away with. There is no pretence that any f this money goes on public services, such as health, education or roads. Much of it is spent by the militiamen on khat, an addictive stimulant, whose green leaves they can chew for hours on end. Those who can afford it travel with several armed guards – and then you can pass the road-blocks unmolested.
Seventeenth century philosopher Thomas Hobbes wrote that “life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”, if there is no central authority. Few Somalis have probably heard of Hobbes but most would agree with his description – except for “solitary”, as family and clan ties remain extremely strong.
Sounds great. Thankfully, in America we have kleptocracy, which is marginally better.