This TCS story about the notable absence of Parliament in the Czech Republic will probably end up in the bloggings of every anarcho-capitalist and small-l libertarian, soon enough.
“The Czech Republic, which held general elections in June, still has no government … Notably, the sky has not fallen. The country’s institutional framework remains sturdy, the economy continues to grow apace, and some Czechs wonder if they even need government at all.The continued growth of the economy suggests that the investors perceive the Czech Republic as a safe place for their savings. That is a vote of confidence in the strength of the Czech institutional framework and the progress that the country has made since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
It appears that the Czechs can afford to be without government a little while longer.”(emphasis added)
Well, so maybe they’re not doing without government entirely. There are still government courts and policemen. There are still customs and border patrol agents on the trains. So it’s one hell of a reach to presume that the Czech Republic is truly sans government. That they’ve gone five months, however, without a general law-making body, is certainly worth considering.
Perhaps its worth noting that the institutional framework, which classical liberals like Hayek held in such high esteem, seems to be worth more than all the bridges to nowhere, protectionism, infighting, drug crusades, imperialism, and mercantilism for which politicians are known.
Whatever happens there, and all signs indicate prosperity & progress, it’s certainly a better rallying cry than Somalia.
[...] can’t underestimate what an exaggeration that statement is. Hell, the Czechs survived for at least six months or so, last year, during which the entire country was without parliament. [...]