[TheOtherHobbes]

There's always a state in one form or another. Always.

The question is who controls it and who benefits from it, not whether or not it exists.

[golergka]

> not whether or not it exists

It seems that you're trying to frame my argument as if I wanted to abolish the state completely, but I have said nothing of the sort. Just as you're saying, the question is, in what form should the sate exist. And my answer is, in the most minimal form required to uphold the things that no other institution can.

[SantalBlush]

The state corrects for market failures, which no other institution can. It can also pool risk much more efficiently than a corporation can.

I'd say the current state (US or UK) isn't far off from what you describe.