Maybe the anarchists have a point

Almost two-thirds of Americans believe that distrust of government is a major barrier to solving issues in public life. As we witness a marked decline of faith in both the government and the stability of our democracy, some are arguing that it’s the perfect time to take a serious look at the historic libertarian premise: Maybe government itself is the problem.

While libertarianism has many variants, perhaps the most controversial is its anarcho-capitalist faction—those who believe in removing government influence from all industries in favor of privatization. One intellectual arguing in favor of anarcho-capitalism is Robert P. Murphy, an economist and senior fellow at the Mises Institute, a libertarian think tank. Dr. Murphy has written for decades on libertarian economics and the effects of government intervention, and has maintained that his economic views are compatible with both Christianity and the doctrine of natural law.

I asked Dr. Murphy to explain some basic arguments for anarcho-capitalism, the extent of American distrust in the current two-party system, and the current state and strategy of the libertarian movement. He holds a B.A. in economics from Hillsdale College and a Ph.D. from New York University, and has taught at both institutions. He is currently a senior fellow with the Mises Institute.