Libertarianism, AnarchoCapital and the P2P Internet

[Mr. Now]

This is a one short post with one big idea: the idea that the Internet, via its underlying peer-to-peer (TCP/IP) protocol, is in fact encouraging Libertarianism.

This idea is unthinkable as few as 15 years ago.

The very nature of TCP/IP encourages peer-to-peer-ness. This P2Pness is encouraging P2P interaction throughout society. Most Libertarian ideas (and especially the AC ideas) contain an explicit P2Pness, a free market exchange between equals, with absolutely no central planning. The internet works in precisely this way, with no central planning, and in fact encourages P2Pness throughout the (offline) world. This is happening a little bit more each day.

The world changes substantially as of the Internet. People no longer accord a person respect because of position or office. That is the old (hierarchical) way. The new (networked) way of getting respect and traction requires P2P interaction. The basis of respect in the new world is called ‘merit’.

The internet is driving this migration towards P2P meritocracy-- and leave-me-alone politics. Both are a natural consequence of the peer-to-peer nature of TCP/IP, the underlying protocol of the Internet.

Mr. Now says: TCP/IP technology drives a rise in acceptance of Libertarianism, including AC.

The TCP/IP protocol drives societal change, away from hierarchy-- and towards networks.

Therefore, all attempts-- at any level of organization-- to implement a hierarchical, command-and-control system(such as the 2 party system, big government) are doomed long term, while anything and everything that supports and encourages empirical, networked P2Pness (such as Libertarian politics, the Free State Project) cannot fail long term.

The political genie is out of the bottle. That genie is TCP/IP.

[Exsubmariner]

Until laws are introduced to regulate, monitor, and tax the internet.

[ojc02]

Heh, that's an interesting analogy.

And how does one determine who to listen to online? Through reputation systems, just like in an unregulated free market.