Jjimm (and Robert) wrote:
I suppose we are assuming a competent adult person who cannot afford to buy even the most minimal housing and lacks either the means or the desire to rent housing in exchange for work or some other consideration.
Quite a lot of charitable work in Libertaria is done by families and friends with emotional interests, neighbors and communities with aesthetic interests, houses of worship and people of faith with moral interests, local and regional community charity groups with ethical interests, and private businesses with public relations interests. As to the latter, a sports team owner, for example, might build a state-of-the-art homeless shelter as a means to market his team as a critical component of the community. (Far fetched? This is what George Shinn did in Charlotte when he owned the Hornets. In fact, most homeless shelters are privately owned.)
But charity is also itself a business. Just as there are investment capitalists for entrepreneurs, there are investment capitalists for self-improvers. There are businesses that offer job and skills training and placement in exchange for contingent fees.
There is also the fact that a man needs nothing more to open a business for himself than a good idea and a burning desire. I’ve consulted with a number of investment capitalists, and not one has ever had any interest in my appearance or social status. They have all been interested in one thing only: can I make them some money?
To begin his own business, he need purchase no license from the city. He need hire no accountant to wrestle with his taxes. He doesn’t need a lawyer to consult on complex business law. He needs no special political clout to bribe or bully for a change in zoning regulations. He need not worry about a competitor calling in a favor from a legislator and dashing his dreams with special rules and property reassignments. He need only work.
Even though indigence ought to be extremely rare in Libertaria, there are cases where indigent people need expensive medical treatment. This is handled charitably in the same way as self-improvement, although the costs can be considerably higher. Hospitals, like Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, exist primarily to provide indigent care, and often are affiliated with houses of worship. There are also primary care facilities that specialize in treatment of poor families and children. No, they are not always as fabulously advanced as wealthier facilities, but economic means must always be a consideration in someone’s life decisions. Even if The State were completely authoritarian, the end result could easily be that nobody produces and everyone is poor.
But if I were poor (more so than I am), Libertaria is where I would want to live. It would be worth the risk to me knowing that I am limited only by my wits, imagination, and determination. Today’s beggar can be tomorrow’s CEO. And vice-versa. I don’t need special consideration or favor to succeed. I need only freedom — freedom from the coercion of others who might wish that I not succeed.
Incidentally, someone mentioned something about permanent copyrights. As I explained in the snippet they quoted, a copyright can expire if a man does not transfer ownership and dies.
If you think he needs assistance, then offer your assistance to him. Organize his neighbors to help since you say they are concerned. (I know you were young, but young people can be passionate and resourceful.) If he is being abused by his parents or guardians, and you are an adult, then charge them with coercion and take guardianship for yourself. Then you can make decisions on his behalf.
