New Orleans, State-Planning, and the Free Market
Michael Barnett, son of William Barnett II, is sticking it out in New Orleans. He's keeping a livejournal blog about what's going on, and Mises.org is running a live feed of his webcam. As someone who's friends with Michael, I know him to be a great person, and a hard-core Austrian, a supporter of the free market and libertarianism. Right now, he's exposing the fraud of State-management, and of State "protection" of private property.
So, what is Michael Barnett & co. doing in New Orleans? Business! He and his associates run directNICHeroically, they're continuing to serve customers, helping people out:
A local company called us because they heard we still had the datacenter operating. They asked for our help. We went to their office and brought back their most critical server. We are in the process of transferring 40 gigs of data from their most critical server at this time. Of course we have no experience with Macs so this will be interesting. While at their facility we noticed that they had 5 drums of water with 5 gallons each. With their permission we took the 25 gallons of water and their cleaning supplies to our office.
Michael has noted an enormous amount of looting going on, some of it by police officers themselves, in New Orleans:
The police are looting. This has been confirmed by several independent sources. Some of the looting might be "legitimate" in as much as that word has any meaning in this context. They have broken into ATMs and safes: confirmed. We have eyewitnesses to this. They have taken dozens of SUVs from dealerships ostensibly for official use. They have also looted gun stores and pawn shops for all the small arms, supposedly to prevent "criminals" from doing so. But who knows their true intentions.
So much for the myth of the police protecting private property. Meanwhile, it seems like every criminal or marginal criminal has surfaced in New Orleans, with massive looting of private property occuring. It is one thing to homestead goods that are going to be destroyed by the increasing water-levels, or food which is going to rot if not used -- this is salvaging -- but it is quite another to steal something that is in no threat of being destroyed, or that is indestructable (e.g., any precious metals). Furthermore, some of these crooks are stealing items of the most personal nature -- people's personal and emotional belongings, left in their homes. Apparently, it's Christmas for Crooks:
These people were absolutely nuts rammed trucks(stolen I'm sure) in to jewelry stores stealing items, they were tearing apart Wal-Mart carrying out TV's, Playstations, DVD players, etc. One lady was wheeling out an entire rack of merchandise, not sure what it was but sure wasn't clothes for food. They were all laughing and carrying on like it's freaking Christmas.
Amazingly, very few have mentioned how this entire episode is a giant example of State failure at every level and every point. It was well known for years that if a category 4 or 5 hurricane hit New Orleans, the levees wouldn't suffice:
[van Heerden] predicted that floodwaters would overcome the levee system, fill the low-lying areas of the city and then remain trapped there well after the storm passed -- creating a giant, stagnant pool contaminated with debris, sewage and other hazardous materials.
Van Heerden and other experts put some of the blame on the Mississippi River levees themselves, because they channel silt directly into the Gulf of Mexico that otherwise would stabilize land along the riverside and slow the sinking of the coastline.
Despite warnings from experts, the levees may also have contributed to an unwarranted sense of security among residents.
But that wasn't the end of State-failure. Central planners also stuffed thousands of people in a football stadium, a great plan for disaster if there's any weakness in the building, which there was. Look for increased calls for regulation, due to this episode of State-planning gone awry being blamed on the free market. Of course, there's also the looting, which police officers aren't stopping, and are even engaging in themselves. Furthermore, this kind of looting is the result of forced integration and various welfare policies, which destroys values.
Comments (21)
I'm a student at Loyola University of New Orleans and live in a building (1750 St.Charles Ave) where we have private security guards. I've called in and found out that the apartment I live in is fine and that they have stopped looters from entering the building. At least, this is great evidence of privatized security staying during the storm and protecting. Much better than the crooked ass cops of New Orleans.....but who knows how long the security guards can hold out. Please give them your prayers.
Published: September 1, 2005 10:17 AM
Every news sites I tune to I see "price gouging", when will they learn?...
Published: September 1, 2005 11:29 AM
The civilized and courageous Mr. Barnett and some other brave souls know what the natural order is.
But it's anarchy, not anarcho-capitalism, that has broken out among the inmates.
Published: September 1, 2005 1:44 PM
They're looking for someone else to host their pictures for them to reduce the demand on their limited bandwidth. Can mises.org handle it?
Published: September 1, 2005 1:50 PM
They've gotten plenty of volunteers, but they have withdrawn the request because they can't spare the bandwidth to transfer the images. They are taking the pictures offline for now to conserve bandwidth until their OC3s are up again.
Published: September 1, 2005 2:01 PM
There used to be a London Salvage Corps that started as a private arrangement like Fire Brigades, in liaison with the insurance industry. It used to step in after fire or water damage and carry out the salvaging process, heading off looting. I feel a North American Salvage Corps might have its place today.
Also, during the US civil war, Lincoln modified laws concerning looting so that straggling soldiers became "entitled" to loot food. This had the public policy benefit that it kept the level of looting under control, since stragglers no longer felt that they might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb, and more often left other things alone. Which is not the same as protecting, of course, just mitigating an evil.
Published: September 1, 2005 10:49 PM
David:
I must say that I have been underwhelmed by the performance of the Federal Government in response to this catastrophe. The decision to place FEMA under Homeland Security has been nothing short of a fiasco. Perhaps I have unrealistic expectations. Why should I expect anything more effective and efficient than airport security? It seems we have done a good job there – since 9/11 there has not been a single incident of a plane being hijacked by nuns with nail clippers, old Chinese ladies in wheel chairs or ex-presidential candidates with titanium hip replacements.
Having failed to deliver even the basic necessities of food and water in 4 days, the number one priority is to ship in 10,000 troops with M-16’s to stop people looting nail clippers, shampoo and diapers from Wal-Mart – this is clearly a priority over the search and rescue of people trapped in attics. If instead the troops each showed up with a backpack of water and bags of hamburgers, fries and coke, I’m sure the rioting crowd would disperse and follow them over to the pickup points.
What has been most embarrassing is that all the cable channels have people on the ground with TV cameras broadcasting this to the entire world, while our emergency forces are paralyzed because their cell phone batteries have gone flat. One TV show host, former congressman Joe Scarborough, on the ground talking to angry residents in Biloxi, who had received no relief at all, was able in a few hours to call his wife and have her organize a group of lady friends to drive in water and food - this was the first relief to be delivered after 4 days had lapsed. It seems clear that the average Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop could have done a better job in providing the basic necessities of food and water than is being done at the moment.
Why is this incompetence allowed to go on? Probably because there is absolutely no consequence for doing such a p*ss-poor job. In a private company, heads would roll. There has been a great impetus to put incompetent managers, who lose shareholders money, in jail. Here, it is no secret that the levy system was only built to withstand a category 3 hurricane, and what would happen if the levy system was ever breeched. However, Congress, in its infinite wisdom, chose to allocate the money to bolster the levy system, to “build a bridge to nowhere�. If Ford or GM chose to ignore a major identified defect in order to save money, there would be hell to pay. The executives responsible would be prosecuted and jailed, the company would be sued, and the customers would defect.
The latest lunacy – Dennis Hastert is being criticized for making the comment that it might not be a good idea to rebuild all of New Orleans.
Published: September 2, 2005 12:54 AM
Not to worry, Easy Al's being called to the rescue, read on...
Overnight comments from former Dallas Fed President McTeer deserve to be quoted in full 'Mr Greenspan is a patriot and I dont think he would necessarily do something because the president asked him in some political sense. But I think the president is a very persuasive person, and they both have a common objective here with the American economy. So together, I think they will come to the right conclusion' !!!!!!!!!
This defies parody.
a) this is contrary to the Federal reserve act
b) it's bad economics
Published: September 2, 2005 2:23 AM
Walt T.,
Speaking from the point of view of someone who has lived in New Orleans, I don't think those looters are doing this for the food. This city was extremely dangerous for police and citizens before hand and its now a catastrophe. Everyone there seems to be murdering and raping a whole lot for just trying to get food. I believe the Libertarian Theory of Justice needs to be brought forward. One wrong should be punished with two onto the wrong doer. Marshal Law needs to take in effect. Anyone preventing the rescue of lives needs their life taken away. Many would die under Marshal Law and it's completely unAustrian but more will die if something drastic isn't done quick....
Published: September 2, 2005 9:00 AM
Sure, there are a few cops that are looting. It's a disgrace! As far as the myth of cops protecting property,what should they do start shooting black people stealing property? Then, this blog would run an article about the police butality. Joing forces with Al Sharpton.
This is anarchy! This is what it looks like, in real life. Sure, you would have private security but what happens when the "bloods" or "crips" start killing your private security guards? What do you do then?
Published: September 2, 2005 9:25 AM
Marty,
Private security guards would do the same thing as anyone with a gun securing an area. Shoot back and shoot to kill. You're not understanding that this isn't just about private property anymore!!! People are murdering and raping each other in New Orleans as well as preventing rescue teams! I think we should start shooting looters right about now. Looters are not respecting the lives of those who need to be saved. Therefore, in return the looters lives should not be respected. I'm very much against any sort of murder but I don't see any other way to bring the situation under control. If anarchy continues many of the innocent won't be saved. It's time for a triage. What is Marty's solution? Let's continue with the anarchy until the whole city starves to death or dies from disease?
Published: September 2, 2005 9:49 AM
My solution is the same, maybe, as yours. Shoot the looters. I support property owners right to own guns and hire private security and shoot looters as necessary to protect life and in some cases property.
I also support local police who would shoot a looter or to save a life.
My only problem is people here, pointning out one or two cops that have stolen property. Would the contributors here support the police when they shot a looter? The first black looter that is shot and Al Sharpton will be on a plane to NO. This blog will then use this as proof of an overbearing state.
Gangs have taken over. I am a NYC cop and we had gone through two days of complete blackout with no looting. NOPD does not have the leadership it needs there. I support local/community police.
Published: September 2, 2005 10:13 AM
BTW..I don't support anarchy of any kind.
Published: September 2, 2005 10:15 AM
New Orleans Police have probably been corrupt since the beginning of time. I don't really believe its just one or two police officers. It's definitely a minority on the police force but its still happening. And as far as Al Sharpton coming down.......no one is more skilled than the New Orleans Police Department at obsfucating the truth of situations. Hell, during Mardi Gras I saw a kid get beaten for just flipping a cop off. And his beating made Rodney King's beating seem like a walk in the park. Approximately 150 saw the beating close up and yet the next day there was nothing about the incident. Private security cannot take such actions without anyone hearing about it or being fired. However, the NOPD controls through their power of intimidation and system control. The common citizen is powerless against them. That is one of the essential things wrong with public security. NOPD never has completely respected people's property rights or their lives. What makes you think they're doing that during this anarchy? I praise Marty for his idealism as a police officer and the world would be a better place if there were more officers on the force like him. But, the NOPD and the NYPD are worlds apart and idealism is not shared by all.
P.S. the beating I saw of the Mardi Gras kid was one of many blantantly wrong things I have seen the NOPD due. I'm not just pointing out one situation. Every citizen of New Orleans after 6 months has at least 5 stories of something that they personally saw the police do that is morally bankrupt.
Published: September 2, 2005 10:30 AM
I can't argue with you because I have heard the same stories about the NOPD. Never having been there I can't say just how bad the situation is in NO.
Published: September 2, 2005 10:35 AM
Marty,
It's nice to hear an officer's point of view. I hope there are many more libertarian-oriented (property-rights) officers in NYC, like yourself.
Personally, I wouldn't necessarily criticize the NOPD for shooting these scum on the spot. However, it depends on who they shoot. The human trash carrying on as if this is Christmas for Crooks -- the animals stealing* non-perishable items, raping, and murdering -- should be shot without a second thought. I wouldn't use that as an example of State-failure.
I don't see what's wrong with pointing out that there are police officers in NO stealing: these people are particularly filthy scum, as not only are they committing crimes (like the animals/human trash in the street), but they had a duty to protect private property.
* I distinguish stealing from salvaging perishable goods or homesteading abandoned property. Food is going to rot anyways (and has already been written off as a business expense by the supermarkets), so there's nothing wrong with taking it (furthermore, it's to preserve life, so we can be forgiving). Likewise, homesteading abandoned property is fine. However, there are scum who are stealing DVD-players, PS2s, TVs, etc. Now that the water-level has stopped rising, these goods aren't in danger of being destroyed, so no argument can be made for salvaging. I'm a little bit puzzled by what these idiots plan on doing with all this stuff, given that there's no power, but I hope they choke on it. Likewise for the scum looting personal posessions.
Published: September 2, 2005 10:40 AM
Thanks. I agree. It depends on what people are taking. I would, as cop, use discretion if somebody is taking baby formula and has a baby in arm. PS2s are a different story.
I am property/states right guy. Libertarian to a certain degree but I will keep reading Mises and maybe you guys can convert me. Thanks for the replys.
Published: September 2, 2005 11:05 AM
After this is over, hug a cop without a new car and brand new jewelery. Some cops are really doing their best and it's great.
Published: September 2, 2005 11:08 AM
Marty,
I agree with Vedran -- we should be grateful for cops that do their job and aren't corrupt (and especially those who are compassionate towards the perpetrators of victimless crimes, such as prostitutes).
You might find this quote from Murray Rothbard, the prominent libertarian (highly respected at Mises.org) and propertarian/anarcho-capitalist to be interesting:
Since you seem interested in libertarian ideas, you might be interested in the enormous variety of resources on Mises.org, if you don't already know about them. I'll suggest a few resources, and some books/papers that may interest you:
Resources:
Selected Books by Ludwig von Mises:
Selected Books by Murray N. Rothbard:
Other books that may be of interest to you:
Since you expressed interest in States' rights and presumeably striction constructionism regarding the Constitution, you may be interested in the work of Thomas Woods and Thomas DiLorenzo:
Published: September 2, 2005 11:50 AM
Thanks guys. I do have all of Tom Wood's books. I just purchased from this site Gene Callahan's Intro to Austrian Economics. Those and the links you mentioned should keep me busy for a while.
I really enjoy the works of Roepke. I have been going through most of his work in English. A free market, localism and limited government intervention. Police and courts.
Thanks for taking the time and helping me further my Austrian education.
Published: September 2, 2005 1:34 PM
How is it that a city under martial law is described as "anarchy" when clearly, there is a government declaring martial law? Just because the government is incompetent doesn't mean there is no government.
Chaos and anarchy are not synonymous. We are seeing what happens when the government fails to do what it claims it will do, not what happens when there is no government at all.
Published: September 2, 2005 1:47 PM