• ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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    12 hours ago

    Tails is only partly correct. The state is open about it’s monopoly on violence , and it’s a key argument in the philosophy of government. The state will use that violence against anyone who threatens it.

    The state exists to protect the power that enables the state. Protestors object to some organization of the state, and so they’re de facto threats.
    Minorities are disproportionately targeted because they inevitably don’t have the power that enables the state.

    It’s not the state being pro peace and making exceptions, it’s the state being pro-state, and being structured around that principle. The violence is inherent and exceptions are made if you provide value or benefit from value being defined to include you.

    • Guy Dudeman@lemmy.world
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      7 hours ago

      And in a democracy, the state ought to be synonymous with “The People” but under capitalism and privately funded election campaigns, the state is controlled by the corporations and the rich who can afford to run candidates that represent their interests instead of the majority of the common people.

    • Dagwood222
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      12 hours ago

      All societies use some form of violence to control people.

      Even the Amish ‘shun’ the malefactors.

      • Prunebutt@slrpnk.net
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        8 hours ago

        But not all societies monopolize violence in an institutional superstructure.

        • Dagwood222
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          6 hours ago

          What does that even mean?

          The Vikings let people go out and raid other villages but drew the line at murdering your neighbor. It that what you’re going on about? You think any one who wants should be able to have their own army?

          • Prunebutt@slrpnk.net
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            4 hours ago

            What exactly do you mean? Monopolization? Superstructure? Violence? Where do I need to start? At the definition of a state?

            My critique is as follows: Violence is currently monopolized by a hierarchical system of command & control - the state. I (and I’m presuming: OP as well) question the legitimacy of the state and its’ monopoly of violence.

            I would prefer it if the necessary amount of violence would be controlled by horizontal power structures.