Committee of Safety
Posted by Temlakos 8 years, 9 months ago to Government
I have mentioned this before in other threads. Now I thought I'd start one of my own.
What, you may ask, does a Committee of Safety do? Answer: such a Committee sees to the safety of a territory, large or small, that does not have a true "state" to govern it. Membership in such a Committee requires a commitment of time, effort, and resources, toward the common project of ensuring the physical safety of all residents. So this Committee would likely consist of the largest stakeholders--those individuals or groups having the most to lose from a breakdown of civil order, a persistence of crime, or invasion from without. In addition, any large stakeholder might send a proxy with full authority to commit resources on his behalf. Or the commander of a mercenary force might join, to plan jointly and to let the others know he and they are on the same page.
In Galt's Gulch (in AS, that is), I maintain that John Galt, Francisco d'Anconia, and Ragnar Danneskjöld constituted the Committee of Safety. John acted as the proxy of Midas Mulligan. Francisco acted in his own right. Ragnar acted as a mercenary--for that is what a privateersman really is--and provided the only offensive capability Galt's Gulch ever had. When Henry Rearden, and later, Dagny Taggart joined the Great Strike, they each also joined the Committee of Safety, as major stakeholder members.
This Committee, you'll notice, never once asked anyone else in the Gulch to contribute toward the defense or the concealment of the community. Instead they supported one another. John Galt built his famous refractor-ray screen to conceal the valley. Francisco likely provided an armed border guard force--you never see that, but no one brought as many of his workers to the Gulch as Francisco did (though Henry Rearden came close). You'll also remember that Francisco hastily organized Rearden's workforce as an armed militia when word came down of the staged riots. Ragnar, of course, made his profits through his sea raiding and the sale of his booty either directly to Midas or to his counterparts in the People's States, especially in Europe. And when John Galt fell captive, the Committee organized as many male residents of the valley as their planes could carry, into an air-land militia tasked with his rescue. Rearden naturally took part, as we see. Dagny also took part, first as a spy, then as a direct rescuer.
The Committee of Safety seemed to work, at least in the novel. Question for the group: how well would it work in real life, and what is the largest sort of territory that a Committee of Safety alone could keep safe?
What, you may ask, does a Committee of Safety do? Answer: such a Committee sees to the safety of a territory, large or small, that does not have a true "state" to govern it. Membership in such a Committee requires a commitment of time, effort, and resources, toward the common project of ensuring the physical safety of all residents. So this Committee would likely consist of the largest stakeholders--those individuals or groups having the most to lose from a breakdown of civil order, a persistence of crime, or invasion from without. In addition, any large stakeholder might send a proxy with full authority to commit resources on his behalf. Or the commander of a mercenary force might join, to plan jointly and to let the others know he and they are on the same page.
In Galt's Gulch (in AS, that is), I maintain that John Galt, Francisco d'Anconia, and Ragnar Danneskjöld constituted the Committee of Safety. John acted as the proxy of Midas Mulligan. Francisco acted in his own right. Ragnar acted as a mercenary--for that is what a privateersman really is--and provided the only offensive capability Galt's Gulch ever had. When Henry Rearden, and later, Dagny Taggart joined the Great Strike, they each also joined the Committee of Safety, as major stakeholder members.
This Committee, you'll notice, never once asked anyone else in the Gulch to contribute toward the defense or the concealment of the community. Instead they supported one another. John Galt built his famous refractor-ray screen to conceal the valley. Francisco likely provided an armed border guard force--you never see that, but no one brought as many of his workers to the Gulch as Francisco did (though Henry Rearden came close). You'll also remember that Francisco hastily organized Rearden's workforce as an armed militia when word came down of the staged riots. Ragnar, of course, made his profits through his sea raiding and the sale of his booty either directly to Midas or to his counterparts in the People's States, especially in Europe. And when John Galt fell captive, the Committee organized as many male residents of the valley as their planes could carry, into an air-land militia tasked with his rescue. Rearden naturally took part, as we see. Dagny also took part, first as a spy, then as a direct rescuer.
The Committee of Safety seemed to work, at least in the novel. Question for the group: how well would it work in real life, and what is the largest sort of territory that a Committee of Safety alone could keep safe?
The implication in Atlas Shrugged is that the Gulch remained undetectable until government collapse gave law enforcement more other problems to deal with. A security element then should only have to deal with scavengers and looters. During the "Rodney King riots" in Los Angeles in 1992 it only took a few armed store owners to keep the rioters at bay in the Korean district. Discipline and effective training in small arms, as well as planned defensive actions can make even a small contingent a good barrier.
That is only one kind of force, and in the setting of Atlas Shrugged, not as important as the force of ideas.
John Galt was the ultimate wielder of this force. His ability to recruit strikers from the inventors/doers/makers was critical to bringing about the collapse. Further the force of ideas continued to grow over time, gaining strength every time a new striker was recruited.
Ragnar and his forces were very capable, but of limited influence on society as a whole.
The freedom of compatible minds leaves room for all the branches and networks of variety and, yes, diversity, as long as the center holds. Such a society has no need to spy on its own for possible traitors. And in its relations with the "outside world" it can present the same principles of trading values and encouraging a philosophy of beneficial self-interest.
Staying safe when surrounded by potential predators is best achieved by rational persuasion rather than an ever escalating arms race. The fictional Gulch had a cloak of invisibility. Can we have that while in the midst of a society where a majority of individuals subscribe to predatory and violent means of dealing with others?
This online Gulch is certainly not cloaked. We have participants here of all different persuasions, some of whose ideas may be irreconcilable and may well, at some point, lead to physical harm. Of course, this Gulch has administrators who can block or banish people. Does that constitute a Committee of Safety or at least Civility? At root it always comes down to the single principle of human relations without force or fraud.
that there would need to be a process of joining the group
which would involve the acceptance of part of the burden
of defense of the group. . children would be asked to join
when they gained the age of majority -- whatever agreed
age that might be. . representatives would be needed
to represent us common folk in the committee, I would
think. . what do you think, gulchers? -- j
.
True the world and governments were criminal in their actions but did that justify stealing from others?
The idea worked one way in 1700s, a second way in the story but would require re-stating in 2016.
The only way to supplant and not supplement the present government well two ways are get them to openly state they have dumped the Constitution...which in effect is exactly what they have done. At that point anything Constitutional is out the window and doesn't apply except as background for a PT Barnum bit of street theater. You can date that from the evening of December 31st 2015 if not before.
The second way is a legal and required take over of the present government which is the province of the military although I don't see them honoring their oath of office anymore. "support and defend the Constitution ....against all enemies foreign and domestic.. which certainly applies to that two bit shyster ham'n'egger from Chicago AKA Obey Me.
In the meantime there is not one square inch of ground that has been abandoned EXCEPT the area in central Arizona from the border up to or past the middle of the State. Formally abandoned by the federal,state and local authorities.
Anything else would be treated with a laugh and at best ignored at worst find themselves as another Waco target with the liberal press on their ass to justify the action.
Reason. No power. To be quite blunt the shyster doesn't give rat's ass about the citizens nor the Constitution.
Neither does a majority of the citizens.