This is "Christian anarchism and roads".
Public roads are used by most of us almost
every day. At first glance, it may seem problematic
or even impossible to conceive of a functional
modern society without public roads – but
rest assured, it is not only possible, but
preferable!
There are a number of issues with public roads,
some common and some not. We start with the
“tragedy of the commons“. Simply put,
public roads are a resource which is depleted
by use (or “wear and tear”). This resource
is “socialized”, or funded by each according
to his means, but used by each according to
his needs (or, more accurately, desires).
That is to say, an individual generally feels
no responsibility or accountability towards
his use of the roads, whether or not he helps
pay for them, because all (generally) are
given carte blanche access (or free reign).
Since public roads are public property, there
is a greatly decreased incentive for any one
party (including the state, which has a monopoly
on the roads) to maintain the roads in a manner
that is both beneficial and efficient in the
long term.
Not only does this drastically increase wear
and tear of the roads, but it increases the
environmental impact, the fiscal cost, and
other resource costs – that is to say, it
increases waste and inefficiency. Because
one is free to use the roads to any extent,
without (at least immediate) foreseeable detriment
to himself, he is typically liberal and unscrupulous
in doing so. This generally leads to neglectful
attitudes and actions such as rejection of
the use of reasonable forms of mass transportation
or carpooling, pointless joy rides/pleasure
rides/Sunday drives or trips to wander aimlessly
around the mall, or retailers shipping multiple
items to the same address on multiple different
days because of inconsequential cost differences
– all examples of misuse or overuse. These
actions harm the environment and drive up
the cost of resources like gasoline, roads,
vehicles, and related materials, as well as
lessen the supply of said resources.
Last but not least, public roads are funded
by taxation – which, as we have established
previously, is simply a euphemism for violent
theft – immoral and anachronistic to a civilized
society.
Some alternatives to road management and ownership
community/shared ownership
Under this arrangement, maintenance of a road
would function similar to that of HOAs and
local roads today. Funding could be contract-based
(included in HOA fees) or voluntary/donation-based
(people of a community contribute what they
can).
private not-for-profit ownership
One example of private not-for-profit roads,
which almost all homeowners today own, is
driveways. It is in the homeowner’s best
interest to maintain that driveway not only
for their own sake, but for that of their
visitors and of commercial vehicles (mail,
delivery, services). As an extension of that
principle, an individual, or business, or
conglomerate of either, may find it in their
best interests to maintain certain roads in
exchange for the benefits (increased trade,
for example) they would receive as a result.
private for-profit ownership
This too is a very common form of private
roads today, and would probably be the dominant
form of road system in a voluntary society.
Namely, we are talking about tolls. In an
effort to satisfy their customers (drivers),
toll owners would be encouraged to work together
and find a common toll system to make driving
enjoyable.
But if a road is the only way to get from
point A to point B, couldn’t its owner charge
some exorbitant fee (say, a million dollars)
to use it?
Of course! This would be called a monopoly
on the road. In such a scenario, one can only
imagine that all traffic on that road would
come to a stop. But the first question you
must answer is: why doesn’t this happen
already? Why don’t toll roads charge these
exorbitant fees? The answer, of course, is
because nobody would (or could) afford to
pay them. The only profitable way to run a
road (just like any other business) is to
charge the market price – that is, where
supply (availability of roads) meets demand
(number of road users willing to pay said
price).
There are, of course, alternatives to monopolies
(and we will delve into this further in the
near future). For example, if a road owner
were to attempt to charge some unreasonable
rate and stubbornly hold to it at the cost
of losing the majority of his target market,
there would be a very high demand for a new,
alternate route. In the timeless virtues of
capitalism, some “greedy” (read: wise)
investor would rise to meet that demand.
Wouldn’t it be extremely inefficient and
obnoxious to have to stop and pay a toll every
time the road switches?
Absolutely! Which is exactly why it wouldn’t
happen. Travel, just like most any other daily
activity, is a form of commerce. And in commerce,
the proprietor is well advised to make the
client experience the best it can be. Road
owners would be incentivized to make travel
as comfortable and efficient as possible,
and that incentive would probably include
working together to devise or use a common
system of payment. In fact, we already see
such systems in use today, in the form of
automatic, electronic toll collection systems
such as EZ-pass, which is commonly used throughout
different states in the northeast.
But travel would become so much more expensive!
A toll every time I drive somewhere?!
Not so fast. Consider all of the implications.
There would be no gas tax. There would be
no road tax. There would be no other taxes.
With gas prices significantly lower, taxes
eliminated, and the maintenance and efficiency
incentives/cost savings of private ownership,
not to mention the elimination of the monopoly
on the road system and the tragedy of the
commons, travel costs would probably be much
more likely to plummet than to rise!
Many already pay a toll every time they drive
to and from work, for example. This in itself
is evidence that such a system is feasible.
I don’t buy it yet. I think privatization
of the roads would be more hassle than reward.
Whether you are sold on the inner workings
of such a system yet or not, remember this:
whatever the cost, privatization of the roads
is consistent with the principle of non-aggression
and opposition to violent taxation. Just as
with any other issues of statism, when you
oppose private ownership and enforce taxation,
you are making a violent claim to someone
else’s property whether they like it or
not. You must always weigh the moral cost
of an action against its perceived systematic
benefits.
For Christians
First let us consider roads from a practical,
basic, Christian point of view. Roads are
vital to the spreading of God’s word. You
do have an inherent right to travel, but you
do not necessarily have an inherent right
to roads. As a moral person, you must be opposed
to the coercion of taxation, and as a result,
must be willing to pay the appropriate cost
to utilize any resource that does not belong
to you, including roads.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image,
in our likeness, and let them rule over the
fish of the sea and the birds of the air,
over the livestock, over all the earth, and
over all the creatures that move along the
ground.”
Genesis 1:26
“‘The land must not be sold permanently,
because the land is mine and you are but aliens
and my tenants. Throughout the country that
you hold as a possession, you must provide
for the redemption of the land.
Leviticus 25:23-24
As Christians we are called to be good stewards
not only of ourselves and others, but also
of the earth and our property and possessions,
all that God has put under our dominion. We
are called to be frugal instead of wasteful,
and as demonstrated above, privatization of
roads is one way to do so.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good
measure, pressed down, shaken together and
running over, will be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured
to you.”
Luke 6:38
Command them to do good, to be rich in good
deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
1 Timothy 6:18
And do not forget to do good and to share
with others, for with such sacrifices God
is pleased.
Hebrews 13:16
We are also called to be charitable and giving
of a gracious disposition when we are able.
Willingness to share and benefit others with
joy in our hearts is a virtue. Practically,
that extends to voluntarily funding of services
that the less fortunate might also use, even
when they might not be able to share in the
cost – and yes, that includes the roads!
