@agorabrewing @sev At least defense, I'd say.

@realcaseyrollins @sev let's think about that for a min. In our current situation, that means 325 million people funding the defense of this entire giant section of a continent (and not very well, illegal immigrants get in all the time) and I don't see any good reason why New York for example should fund or have a say in the defense of Texas. Take that to it's logical conclusion, I don't see why I should pay for or have a say in your defense or vice versa.

Take the current upcoming conflict (assuming they're not both in on it) between the US and China. *I* don't have any ill will or poor reputation with any particular Chinaman and would have no reason to worry about missile defense or any of that nonsense if it weren't for the US government's forays on my behalf into (potential) conflict with China.

So this comes to two points really: 1) even in defense, it's tough to prove any public good theory necessitating the use of taxation for funding and B) many of the reasons that defense Might be a public good are caused by the same organization that supposedly provides the service. It seems to me that such an organization that seeks your approval and funding would have every incentive to make up a reason (war) for you to fund them. Classic snake oil really.

@agorabrewing @sev Guess it comes down to whether or not you think the nation should have an army i guess

@realcaseyrollins @sev that's exactly the notion I'm attacking. What is nation, why does it have to be the US as it currently looks? Why not fifty different nations? Why not a hundred? And so on and so forth. There is no good reason, cultural or otherwise for Alaska and Hawaii to be the same country. Same for Texas and New York. Commiefornia wants to secede, why not let em? They can try this stupid crap on their own and they can fail on their own. The military is as much a part of this question as any other service

@agorabrewing @sev Which state should have the nukes then

Having states in a nation is helpful because it provides unity as well as shared resources

@realcaseyrollins @sev missing the point yet again. "Having states in a nation"? As if there can't be a nation unless it is shaped like the US as is and is called the US.

Which state gets the nukes? Well, I'd prefer denuclearization personally but whether or not we'll ever get it is hard to say. Until alternative law and enforcement are devised and provided, dismantling the government is probably a bad idea. Gotta make sure the Rockefellers and co. don't make off with the stash.