[ersatzz]

Governments can say whatever they want. My question was rather that if the government ceases to provide protection to... my exclusive right to my wallet, are others free to take it? Would this be theft, liberation or recovery? What happens if I simply begin to assert this exclusive right? What would this phenomenon be called? Is it really the case individuals can not assert their rights without a governments backing?

[andrekandre]

  > Is it really the case individuals can not assert their rights without a governments backing?

doesn't the word "rights" itself presuppose a governing/arbitrating body?

[ersatzz]

No there exists natural/universal rights and legal/customary rights.

I should've left the quoted part out as its presumptuous, my bad.