Is government responsible for most of the deaths by violence and oppression in the 20th Century?
Well, yeah. Of course. Organized thugs kill more efficiently than disorganized thugs. Wars and oppressions are collective endeavors, and whenever humans work collectively, they work through government. Whether wars are fought using citizen militia, standing armies, hired mercenaries, tribal warriors, corporate security teams, street gangs, paramilitaries or feudal levies, there’s always a ruler or governing body to determine who does what to whom. Call it a cabinet, junta, council of elders, general staff, board of directors, politburo or capo de tutti capi — it’s a government. Unfortunately, blaming war and tyranny on government is like blaming house fires on oxygen. Strictly speaking, it’s true, but no fire marshal would ever get a good performance review if that’s his answer to everything. To understand house fires, you’ll have to look at wiring, storage, smoking, materials and cooking, and not just insist, “It’s oxygen, I tell you! Oxygen is evil! Why won’t anyone listen to me?” M
