28
Aug
2009
Freeland and Government
After several good discussions in class, I think we learned that ‘Freeland,’ an anarchy (or ‘state of nature’) is chaos. Every man for himself. Kinda like some parts of New Orleans in the days following Hurricane Katrina. Four years ago, Hurricane Katrina hit the coast of Louisiana. Many people say that Hurricane Katrina, and it’s aftermath amount to the greatest failure of government action (or inaction) in American History.
After the hurricane hit, and the power went out (in August in the South), and the waters started to flood the town, and most of the residents of the city had fled, government broke down and couldn’t do much to help the people who remained in the city. After a few days, however, the National Guard arrived and order was restored. Usually, chaos doesn’t last. If you’re interested in Hurricane Katrina, I suggest watching Spike Lee’s ‘When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.’ I have a copy if you’d like to borrow it.
Reading the New York Times online, I found a second example of a ‘state of nature’ a few months ago. Camp Runamuck in Rhode Island. In this camp, there is a small society of about 80 people, all living in tents, on the bank of the Providence River. They have a Cheif, John Freitas, and a 5 person leadership council. They have a written compact and abide by certain rules. Why do these people, ‘homeless,’ and free from the typical retraints of government, create their own government? Which theory of origin (evolutionary, force, social contract) would explain the creation of this simple government? Would you choose to live in Camp Runamuck if you were homeless in Providence, RI?