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Mises Economics Blog

Governments Should Be Afraid ....

July 25, 2005 3:43 PM by Roderick T. Long (Archive)

Intriguing trailer here for the upcoming movie adaptation of the anarchist comic book V for Vendetta.

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Comments (14)

  • Curt Howland

    Having not read the comic, I can only comment from seeing the trailer.


    This actually reenforces the idea that "anarchy" equals "chaos". I may very well enjoy watching the movie, but I will keep in mind that it will make anarcho-capitalism that much harder to communicate. Exactly like trying to argue the abolition of forced public schooling, the brainwashing to "remind you why you need us (government)" is very hard to penetrate.


    Considering the costs against the benefits of having a government, even the most pessimistic results of abolishing coercive governance could not be worse than what we have now.

    Published: July 25, 2005 4:08 PM

  • Manuel Lora

    Ditto on the comments about anarchy = chaos. I did like that the movie is using the V inside a circle, which, when inverted, would be the traditional anarchy symbol. I like Natalie Portman, so I probably will be seeing that one for her more than for the story :)

    Published: July 25, 2005 4:20 PM

  • iceberg

    Chaos only occurs when governments intervene in the natural order of things, which I believe is the point of this movie.

    Published: July 25, 2005 5:22 PM

  • Roy W. Wright

    I've read the entire comic, and if the movie's true to it, it shouldn't be too disappointing to libertarians. The comic is very much an attack on theistic/right-wing governments, and doesn't contain much in the way of economic reasoning or a critique of socialist oppression, but it's not very far from solid thinking.

    Published: July 25, 2005 5:47 PM

  • todd

    I seem to remember the authour making a stink and demanding that his name be removed from the movie for some reason. Cost him some money too, IIRC.

    It might have been simply that he saw the last W. brothers movie....

    Published: July 25, 2005 11:05 PM

  • Roy W. Wright

    Well, I loved the Matrix Trilogy. I've watched it several times. I hope V is of similar quality (Natalie Portman notwithstanding).

    Published: July 25, 2005 11:39 PM

  • Huebert

    Here's the official poster. I submit to you that no movie has ever had a better tagline. Whether the film will actually be any good, though, I don't know.

    Published: July 26, 2005 12:01 AM

  • skye Stewart

    The Anarchy = Chaos analogy is popular since the opposite would obliviously be State = Order, which ultimatelyis fallacious.

    However, does anyone have comments on the issue as to the relationship between revolution/uprising and the non-aggression axiom? If a murderous government is committing genocide (or democide) but has not yet come after you specifically, and the political process is a sham, what reaction is warranted?

    Published: July 26, 2005 11:07 AM

  • Curt Howland

    Skye,


    If a murderous government is committing genocide (or democide) but has not yet come after you specifically, and the political process is a sham, what reaction is warranted?


    Government is, by definition, coercive force. Any action taken by a government agent that is beyond what is "allowed" in the society to every other member of society, is coercive. It's only "legal" because government itself writes and enforces "laws".


    You've put several qualifiers on your question, demonstrating an idea advanced in the Declaration of Independence: "mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."


    No jury I'm on will convict someone for murder for killing a tax collector or politician, unless it's Ron Paul. I'm iffy on police, it depends on what the pig was doing when killed. Most of my neighbors disagree with me, since they are accustomed to the level of abuse that is presently being maintained against them.


    So you really have to ask yourself what your personal level of tolerance is. I don't think there is a set point for "legitimate" revolt. All successful revolts are "legitimate", all unsuccessful revolts "illegitimate", since the winners are the ones who write the history books.


    Compared to the abuses that launched the American revolution, the US today is one big prison camp. We're just accustomed to it.

    Published: July 26, 2005 1:23 PM

  • Roy W. Wright

    Compared to the abuses that launched the American revolution, the US today is one big prison camp.

    It has amazed me since I was a boy that people still celebrate "Independence Day" the way they do and express their gratitude to live in a "free country."

    Published: July 27, 2005 2:56 PM

  • Eric

    Christopher Nolan (director of Batman Begins, Insonmia, and Memento) has a new movie coming out in 2006 entitled "The Exec", described at IMDB as "A drama set in a future society where big business is the governing body, and conducts its affairs like engaging in warfare." Sounds like some bad PR for AC defenders. lol

    Published: July 28, 2005 9:56 AM

  • Eric

    Christopher Nolan (director of Batman Begins, Insonmia, and Memento) has a new movie coming out in 2006 entitled "The Exec", described at IMDB as "A drama set in a future society where big business is the governing body, and conducts its affairs like engaging in warfare." Sounds like some bad PR for AC defenders. lol

    Published: July 28, 2005 9:56 AM

  • Roderick T. Long

    Sounds like the mercantilist/corporatist present to me.

    Published: July 28, 2005 11:10 AM

  • todd

    The comic at least addresses specifically the anarchy/chaos issue and what the differences are.

    Published: July 28, 2005 8:17 PM

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