I’ve been in the midst of a little debate here on the platform recently regarding the nature of property.

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A fellow Steemian has asserted to me that there must be a “balance” when it comes to property. The reason being that mega-rich and powerful corporations tend to take over the world and its resources, denying them to individuals truly in need. This is an accurate assessment of some corporations, but it’s incomplete. My fellow Steemian/opponent in debate says:

for example, Nestle (Nest Slay) attempting to literally enslave the the earth under the guise of being some kind of benevolant father figure - simply through operations of commerce and enforcement of private property.

To which I replied:

Nestle enjoys a monopoly based on leveraging state violence. Property is not the problem. The initiation of force to maintain “ownership” of illegitimately acquired property (according to natural law/individual self-ownership) is.

Property really isn’t that subjective, according to natural law.

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Furthermore my fellow Steemian says:

balance, by definition cannot be dangerous...if you really think about my definition, it is literally saying that real balance means that everyone has their real needs met and is not being overpowered. Nestle, for an example, does not have a REAL need to own and control ALL the water - yet they try anyway - and if they do then that is not balanced.

To which I yet again replied

Property is clear cut. It is an objective, immutable reality that each individual has self-ownership (nature conferred) of their body. This then is the basis for determining what is and is not property, and not just someone’s conception of “fair” or what is a “real need” or not. Homesteading, acquiring as a gift, inheriting, etc, are all ways by which an individual can own property non-coercively absent the state’s brutal apparatus.

And you’re wrong about balance. It can be extremely dangerous when attempting to dilute what is right, and make arbitrary decisions about the natural rights of each individual.

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The biggest red flag, however, was this:

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A couple things to notice:

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My fellow Steemian here is evolving society’s understanding (“society” can understand nothing, as it is an abstract concept—only individuals can understand things) and also is never wrong on this issue! Wow. Anytime dissent or offense of any kind is encountered it is merely because the other party misunderstands him. How convenient.

Some folks may say I am reading too far into this, or pushing the issue beyond what is necessary, but I am telling you, anytime someone attempts to set themselves up as some sort of helper of “society at large” for the “greater good,” and maintains that property is only really a “subjective idea” which must be “balanced”—watch out.

Consent does not involve “balance” in this sense!
My ownership of the gold coin in my wallet has no such “balance” to it. It is mine, objectively. The end. Someone else may really need it, and I may freely decide to give it to them, or not. It is for me and not some external arbiter of “fairness” to decide.

Whether here on Steemit, or in your real life relationships, these approaches to the topic of what is proper always result in top-down control. Who is at the top? The messiah, of course, deciding for you what your “real needs” are and are not.

So yeah, how do we stop abuses from happening such as the ones occurring at the hands of Nestle? Easy. Abolish and eliminate the means by which these entities achieve violent coercion. The state.

I’m not saying my “opponent” here has malicious intent. Just pointing out that “fairness” must never be the mere opinion of one man. That certainly results—and has resulted time and time again—in hell on earth.

Google “voluntaryism”!

~KafkA

!

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Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as Facebook and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)