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Of Windmills, and the Men Who Tilt at Them
Chris gets a no-prize that'll bloody well ring freedom wherever it pleases for bringing us news that a silicon valley billionaire is out to create himself some countries: "Pay Pal founder and early Facebook investor Peter Thiel has given $1.25 million to an initiative to create floating libertarian countries in international waters, according to a profile of the billionaire in Details magazine."
The experiences of Sealand may be instructive here. I'm not sure just how serious the guy is, but hey, it's his money, he can spend it how he pleases. That said, these things will only survive at the pleasure of the US Navy. I would expect them to be able to hold off your garden variety pirate raid, but a determined state could easily overwhelm them. Still, it's fun to think about!
I'm all for libertarian countries, but they do seem to depend on an informed and proactive populace, something done better when you've got a consistent and smaller group of people to work with. Once you've created an environment where someone can live off someone else's money* then the system is truly farked beyond repair.
*Aside from those so truly disabled that it's either that or they die. Think quadriplegics here.
Posted by: Ron ap Rhys on August 17, 2011 02:40 PM