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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Felix" data-source="post: 3659054" data-attributes="member: 3929">Force is the only method governments have available to ensure people comply with society. It's not a matter of if force is used, merely how much.For example: I, in my chevy truck, pull you over and tell you you were speeding in front of my house, and that you must send my family $100. I have a gun holstered at my side. A police officer pulls you over and tells you you were speeding in front of my house, and that you must send the government $100. He has a gun holstered at his side.Do you react the same way to these two situations? Likely not, because you ought recognize that the officer is authorized by the government to force you to pay a fine. If you got out of the car, wrestled me to the ground, took away my gun and left in your car, you would have a much easier time defending yourself in court than if you tried to do the same thing to a police officer. The police officer is allowed to use physical threats and force in response to what you do. If I did it, it would be aggravated assault and battery, even though your speeding threatened my family directly.Force, and the threat of force, is the only tool the government has in its toolbox to ensure compliance. Governments favor the stick over the carrot; the carrot may bring some folks in willingly, but the stick will make sure everyone behaves, willing or not. Does this make all societies Evil? Vetinari called it something like, "the illusion of choice". The example KB cites is one where Moist Von Lipwig is given the choice to be the postmaster, and if he doesn't want to, he can just walk out that door. Another character later in the book chooses instead to walk out the door; simply because that door leads to a deep pit and death doesn't mean that a person couldn't believe that they chose to change willingly. And if they were unaware of the imminent death from refusing to cooperate, then the choice to cooperate actually was freely chosen. Isn't it?</blockquote>

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