Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Private Security Systems

There is a large body or work on the topic of private security systems written by libertarians, featuring private police forces and private armies.  Pretty interesting stuff, but the fatal flaw is as people aggregate power they abuse it.

So how do you enforce any standards when

A.  There are no common standards?

B.  There are no cops?

Well, the Amish show how, of course.  And so does the USPS.  That's right, the post office.

You see, just as there are not enough people in USA to inspect food contrary to the stated mission of the FDA, there are not enough humans in USA to deal with the sole problem of dogs threatening letter carriers.  If we sent in people to deal with this problem, given the minimum requirements of state intervention (officer safety, secure the perimeter) there would be no time for any other USA citizen to do any other work.

So how does the USPS manage this problem?
USPO workers shun neighborhoods with dangerous dogs.  A letter carrier complains to management about the dangerous dog, and management then stops delivery of mail to that block.  The people on that block contact the postal service and complain.  The postal service informs them they cannot and will not deliver mail as long as there is a dangerous dog on the block, so the homeowners are now obliged to visit the post office to pick up their mail. 
Of course, in time, one way or another, the dog disappears, and the mail resumes.   
In this way there is no need to bring in other governmental agencies, such as animal control, or the police, which in either case would probably have little effect, since it is not against the law to have a dangerous dog (although a foolish liability to own one).
The USPS has little problem now with dangerous dogs, because, Amish style, community action deals with the problem. The benefit is cumulative, for the problem was nipped in the bud long ago and has no chance to flower.  We do have ways of living without this recent introduction of police forces.

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