The Market for Liberty

This book is the best investment in any book I've ever made! Anyone who believes in true freedom, and to understand how a free-market "Laisse Faire" society (government-less!) could work in reality, this is an indispensable book. Governments and their complicate, corporate-owned media have brainwashed world citizens to believe government is necessary...of course(!) This book was 1st published in 1970 and was recently re-printed as it is now so timely. History proves all tyrannical governments eventually fall by their own tyranny as it is totally unnatural to the human spirit. The US (and probably many other) government(s) are setting themselves up for a fall VERY SOON, and we the People will have the extraordinary opportunity to rebuild society in the spirit of freedom. THIS BOOK IS THE PERFECT BLUEPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FREE SOCIETY!!

If you want a detailed understanding of what freedom means, this book is for you. If you want to know if anything can be done about perpetual human conflicts, both domestic and foreign, you need to study this book. If you want to know why the US has been bleeding freedom for ages, the authors lay it out clearly on page after page. Thankfully, they make their case in everyday language, rather than academic jargon.

"The Market for Liberty" is even more relevant today than it was when it first appeared in 1970. Though the authors use the term "laissez-faire" to refer to the social order they advocate, they make the case for what is often today referred to as anarcho-capitalism. Their laissez-faire society is absent government-as-we've-known-it. There is no legal coercive order, not even a "night watchman state." All goods and services, including and especially those claimed to be the exclusive province of government, can and should be provided on the market.

The Tannehills' treatise is rock-solid realistic in virtually all respects. Here, for example, is how they begin "Chapter 13. Foreign Aggression":

## Many people ask, “But how in the world could a laissez-faire society deal with aggression by foreign nations, since it would have no government to protect it?” Behind this question are two unrealized assumptions: first, that government is some sort of extra-societal entity with resources of its own . . . and, second, that government does, in fact, defend its citizens.

## In reality, government must draw all its resources from the society over which it rules. When a governmentally controlled society takes defensive action against an aggression by a foreign power, where does it get the resources necessary to take that action? The men who fight are private individuals, usually conscripted into government service. The armaments are produced by private individuals working at their jobs. The money to pay for these armaments and the pittance doled out to the conscripts, as well as the money to pay the salaries of that small minority comprising the other members of the armed forces, is confiscated from private individuals by means of taxation. Government’s only contribution is to organize the whole effort by the use of force—the force of the draft, taxation, and other, more minor coercions, such as rationing, wage and price ceilings, travel restrictions, etc. So, to maintain that government is necessary to defend a society from foreign aggression is to maintain that it is necessary to use domestic aggression against the citizens in order to protect them from foreign aggression.##

Further on they write,

##Throughout history, people have been talked into submitting to the tyrannies of their governments because, they were told, their government was vitally necessary to protect them from the even more terrible depredations of other governments. The governments, having put over this bit of propaganda, then proceeded to cajole and coerce their citizens into **protecting them!** Governments never defend their citizens; they can’t. What they do is make the citizens defend them, usually after their stupid and imperialistic policies have aggravated or threatened another government to the point of armed conflict. Governmental protection against foreign aggression is a myth (but a myth which, sad to say, most people actually believe in).##

They understand the relationship of big business, government, and war:

##It is perfectly true that there is a fascistic alliance between government and many businesses in our present society and that this league results in the military-industrial-university complex which firmly supports the government and its imperialistic policies. The question is, what is the cause of this unholy alliance?##

I invite the reader to discover their answer to this and many other questions that usually arise in a discussion of a stateless society.

As anyone attuned to the news is aware, the current prospects of war with nuclear-armed nations make the Tannehills' treatise a vital must-read if we wish to preserve life on planet earth.

I have to admit, it sounds cliche, but this book changed my life!

I've been all over the political and ideological spectrum throughout my life, but this was the first time I'd seen a concise, consistent and well-written explanation of a very basic concept. The impact of coming to understand the free market, why it works and how it impacts me has filled me with a sense of confidence, understanding and empowerment. This isn't a self-help book, but I challenge anyone to read it, understand it and then not use the concepts introduced in it to improve your life.

This book is a mind blower for anyone who doesn't already consider themselves a free marketeer, a voluntaryist, anarcho-capitalist or the like.

The Tannehills evaluate human nature and social conditioning to set the stage for the very foundations of the market and then go on to explain what the market actually is, why it works, and why interfering with it is both a stupid and impossible task.

They then begin evaluating various goods and services, from washing machines to currencies, from hair color to police services and explain why these services are best left to the marketplace. Morris and Linda then begin offering arguments to their own position, including most of the common arguments against "capitalism" and proceed to tear these down with sound logic and real world examples.

I can not recommend this book more highly. I got a free audio book of it, loved it and passed it on. I bought several printed copies of this book to pass on to friends and in two cases, even strangers.

Well worth the price! Recommended read from Doug Casey.

Capiltalism or free-enterprise is relatively new to mankind. The importance of private property, the division of labour, etc is poorly understood in our society. Government or the "State" is ancient. It's grip on our concept of how things "must" be is firm. Government however, is an antiquated concept that thinking men and women must reject as evil. This is the beginning of wisdom. Much like the movie "Matrix" we must take the red pill and examine our long held beliefs. You will be liberated as a reward for your efforts.

This book is an "easy" read, but for me, a slow read. Much thought and examination is required. This is, to use the hackneyed phrase; "a paradigm shifter". This book was a red pill for me. I rate it higher than Murray N. Rothbard's "For A New Liberty".

I have bought many copies and given them out in the hope of waking up those who still hold onto the belief in limited government. The American experiment was a bold and wonderful thing, but history shows us it was merely an evolutionary step toward the recognition that government is an unnecessary evil. We have evolved a social system (capitalism or free enterprise) that makes government obsolete. A step forward in the attainment of human liberty, prosperity and peace.

Read this short book and observe the Matrix around you.

The only way for the world to become Utopian is for people to live a Utopian existence. As a teenager I learned that required living a life where I committed no theft. A life of honesty. Truly the Utopian world is that simple. Living it, realizing it, is not so simple. "Market for Liberty" explains our (societies) flaws, but also,more importantly, how we can live a beautiful and fruitful life, at least politically. Society is not here, yet we need to strive for this ideal. I am constantly recommending this wonderful book. Left, Right, Libertarian or Authoritarian, if you think - PLEASE READ.

Well worth the read. Why we as a society are where we currently are is discussed in detail. What I like the most is that in this book, it is not only stated WHY we are where we are, but a clear road map of solutions is provided.

This book attempts to outline how a stateless society would function. Though short on analysis, the authors have to be given credit for summarizing a wide range of ideas concerning how a stateless society could function. It's important to realize, however, that this constitutes speculation as libertarians would never presume to know the details of the specific institutions of a society based on the consent of all its members.

Excellent product at an excellent price with an excellent service.

I wish more people understood this book so we could make some real change.

Good book, everyone should read it.

A pure classic book but surprisingly short and naive in some way (I guess if read in the seventies my opinion would differ). Also book format, huge, was strange and not very comfortable.

It's a struggle to get in to, but some ideas are decent.