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Maybe We Should Be a Bit More Like Somalia

July 13, 2016 by V the K

People of a conservative/libertarian persuasion believe that our current level of Government is overbearing, intrusive, and far too expensive to be sustainable; that it should be reduced in size to a level that doesn’t crush individual freedom or free enterprise, and is fiscally sustainable. (This is what the left calls “radical extremism.)

It’s a common trope on the left to respond to such a suggestion with, “Oh, so you HATE police, and fire protection, and infrastructure! Because those are things that only GOVERNMENT can provide. You must want to DESTROY the Government and live like SOMALIA!” Because to the left’s limited way of thinking, the only alternative to bloated, expensive, corrupt, bureaucratic, all-intrusive Government is the other extreme, anarchy. The idea of a limited Government, doing a limited number of necessary things is something the left is simply unable to conceptualize.

reducto

Getting back to Somalia; it actually turns out that Government is *not* necessary to provide basic infrastructure and private enterprise actually does it pretty well, given a chance; even in a dystopian warzone.

The cell phone is itself a key player in the two decades of civil war in Somalia. By 2000 clan militias and warlords had created enough stability to enable growth in commercial activity. For example, by 2004 three cell phone companies competed to provide service ($10 a month for free local calls, 50 cents a minute for international calls and 50 cents an hour to get on the Internet.) Each new cell phone transmitter installed required that the local clan chief or warlord get a payment. Everyone recognizes the value of the new phone service, after having gone without for years after the old government run phone company was looted and destroyed. As a result, phone company equipment really is protected by the clans and warlords, who do not want to lose their dial tone. The new phone service is cheaper and more reliable than the old government owned landline phone network. This is because there is competition, no government bureaucracy and no taxes (other than the necessary bribes and security payments). There is some fear that if a new government gets established well enough regulations and taxes will greatly increase the cost of service, and reduce reliability. Not yet and for years all of Somalia had better, and cheaper, phone service than any of the other nations in the region. But that’s another story. Even al Shabaab had to respect the cell phone network, even though they tried to shut down cell towers some of the time to avoid detection. Al Shabaab lost that battle. Cell phone service became one of the things nearly all Somalis would fight for.

Filed Under: Free (or Private) Enterprise

Comments

  1. Steve says

    July 13, 2016 at 11:26 am - July 13, 2016

    Before the US had income tax it had roads, hospitals, firefighters, postal service, & even airports. Govt didn’t need to give someone millions for a sports arena.

  2. Sean L says

    July 13, 2016 at 11:48 am - July 13, 2016

    Where is your god now, Regressives?

  3. Ilíon says

    July 13, 2016 at 12:49 pm - July 13, 2016

    “Even al Shabaab had to respect the cell phone network, even though they tried to shut down cell towers some of the time to avoid detection. Al Shabaab lost that battle. Cell phone service became one of the things nearly all Somalis would fight for.”

    Hmmm … so maybe having a cell phone is a “basic human right”, after all. :0

  4. CrayCrayPatriot says

    July 13, 2016 at 1:35 pm - July 13, 2016

    Somalia is also an Islamic nation and all Muslims are evil.

  5. Peter Hughes says

    July 13, 2016 at 2:18 pm - July 13, 2016

    Somalia is also an Islamic nation and all Muslims are evil.

    Especially the ones you condone who shoot up Orlando night clubs and throw people like yourself off of tall buildings.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  6. SharpRightTurn says

    July 13, 2016 at 2:39 pm - July 13, 2016

    “But apart from better sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order… what have the Romans done for us?!”

    ~ Life of Brian excerpt.

  7. CrayCrayPatriot says

    July 13, 2016 at 2:47 pm - July 13, 2016

    Especially the ones you condone who shoot up Orlando night clubs and throw people like yourself off of tall buildings.

    Repeating falsehoods like this doesn’t make it true. But, you’ve been asked for proof before, and each time you “provide” it, it’s irrelevant to the conversation. Gurl, bye.

  8. Peter Hughes says

    July 13, 2016 at 4:02 pm - July 13, 2016

    #7 – You’ve already given us enough proof about your feelings towards Muslims, al-Cray-da. I’m merely pointing out the 500-pound gorilla in the room. (No, not Michelle.)

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  9. CrayCrayPatriot says

    July 13, 2016 at 4:16 pm - July 13, 2016

    I’m merely pointing out the 500-pound gorilla in the room. (No, not Michelle.)

    Michelle?

  10. Peter Hughes says

    July 13, 2016 at 4:22 pm - July 13, 2016

    Quit trying to deflect, al-Cray-da. I’m not playing your game.

    BYE FELICIA

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  11. CrayCrayPatriot says

    July 13, 2016 at 4:44 pm - July 13, 2016

    Peter, Why don’t you just explain what you meant by “Michelle.”

    You’re the one who made the comment. Take responsibility for it. Was it a misspelling? A red herring? Dry humour? An obscure reference I’m not getting? I’m sure there is some kind of explanation for it.

  12. Peter Hughes says

    July 13, 2016 at 5:27 pm - July 13, 2016

    God, you are so STUPID, al-Cray-da.

    Michelle was the mom who wasn’t keeping an eye on her son at the Cincinnati Zoo and he wandered into the enclosure where the 800-pound gorilla was.

    And while we’re at it, why don’t YOU answer my questions as to why (a) you hate gay conservatives like Milo and (b) why you think transsexuals are entitled to special rights?

    Checkmate.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  13. CrayCrayPatriot says

    July 13, 2016 at 6:11 pm - July 13, 2016

    Oh, Michelle, the Cincinninny Mom! Because so many people including myself remembered her name along with Harambe’s! You have such a good memory, Peter H!

    In answer to your question (not that you really care), I don’t mind Milo’s conservatism. In fact, I find it refreshing. What I don’t care for is his hyperbolic style that leads him to say all trans suffer from mental illness and then invites them to celebrate gun ownership. If you think an entire group of people suffer from mental illness, why on earth would you want them owning guns?

    As far as special rights, any sexual or racial minority deserves to not be legally discriminated against.

  14. Steve says

    July 13, 2016 at 9:28 pm - July 13, 2016

    Somalia moslems also made Doctors without borders flee the border

  15. CrayCrayPatriot says

    July 14, 2016 at 10:29 pm - July 14, 2016

    Peter H got awfully quiet. Maybe the microphone got stuck in an orifice.

  16. Peter Hughes says

    July 15, 2016 at 11:12 am - July 15, 2016

    Suck it, al-Cray-da. You’re probably still gleeful about what happened in Nice.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  17. CrayCrayPatriot says

    July 15, 2016 at 6:10 pm - July 15, 2016

    What happened in Nice was a horrific tragedy. You’re an a**hole for suggesting otherwise.

  18. Peter Hughes says

    July 16, 2016 at 10:12 am - July 16, 2016

    What happened in Nice was a horrific tragedy. You’re an a**hole for suggesting otherwise.

    Comment by CrayCrayPatriot — July 15, 2016 @ 6:10 pm – July 15, 2016

    Yet you still refuse to condemn the Muslim behind the attack.

    Pot, meet a**hole.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  19. CrayCrayPatriot says

    July 16, 2016 at 6:05 pm - July 16, 2016

    You’re delusional.

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