Obama Correct Regarding Monopoly on Violence

The blogosphere has been delirious with a video in which Obama states, inter alia, "You are privatizing something that is what essentially sets a nation-state apart, which is the monopoly on violence" He said this to an interviewer with the Military Times.

I did not think anything of it, since anyone who has been to college learned the definition of the state, as defined by Max Weber, is a territory with a monopoly on violence. And Max Weber is the sociologist and philosopher anyone who goes into law and government studies in depth, so of course Obama, a Harvard Law graduate, would be familiar with the definition, the fundamental organizing principle of the modern state. Further, I would say I can see why he was elected, his argument is exactly right, if you believe in the modern hamiltonian state (I don't). Both Republicans and Democrats subscribe to this view, and Obama was criticizing Republican violation of this principle which threatens the integrity of the monopoly of violence the state enjoys. Another way of of looking at his argument, republican privatization of war is going to wreck the party for everyone. (It looks like the video was made before he was president... I just wish he was this sensible now. Again, I disagree with the sentiments, but he has it exactly right.)

Good readers comment that government can do good, and offer examples, which to me are debatable, but that would be missing the point. The point is the premise of the state is grounded in violence, which begs the question, how come? Of course the reply is something along the lines of "John sleeps securely in his bed at night because hard men stand watch."

Nonsense. First, rare is the assault (but horrible if it occurs). Most people are good. Second, the outcome of most assaults are decided before the state intervenes, and those willing and able to defend themselves have the home court advantage. Finally, as natural disasters show, we are all on our own when things go bad. But people will say state violence is a necessary evil. "Monopoly on violence" is not just aesthetically ugly, it is evil and uneccessary. But I guess I would have to show that. I am working on that argument.

If you want to get into that argument, maybe start with to which Obama refers - Weber's Politics as Vocation.  Can you think of a better title for what a Bush, Clinton, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Paul, Cuomo, Biden or any other politician has studied.  Read it if you want to know how USA works.

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