Harmattan wrote:First of all the concept of state arose from security considerations. Which meant borders easy to patrol where foreign armies are not allowed to penetrate and roam. And this also includes criminals: many wars have started because the neighbor was hosting/defending burglars who were committing crimes in another territory. And finally autonomy: a state had to have food, energy, horses, materials to build war engines, etc, and today countries also maintain critical stocks in preparation for wars and pay special attention to the trade routes they depend on.
Then comes economy: imagine a micro-state nested within a larger country. Its only border would be with this other country and it would be dependent from this country for so much thing, from manpower to resources and export routes. In the same way a large territory allows you to have specializations and efficiency: industrial regions, administrative regions, etc.
And finally language, culture and identity are propagated to neighbors, which means that again a territory naturally arises.
Maybe in the future we could do things differently, by establishing a core set of minimalist international rules that would allow a variety of autonomous micro-states to peacefully and efficiently coexist. But it remains hard to imagine at this time.
Dear Hartman,
First of all let me say, I like your mustache
Secondly, I agree with pretty much everything that you said. But it sucks when somebody like me, who feels like joining another community, like America, but can't because of boarder and immigration laws. It really sucks.
Like I am not interested in moving to America in order to benefit from their social security system- I don't even know if they have such a thing- or leach on the tax payer's money. I just like it there, I like their ideals, their way of life, etc... I feel like I could easily fit in and have a good life. (I know that because I was a student there before. I was there for 6 years.)
But the problem is I cant do any of that because I am NOT allowed to "work" there.
Seriously, consider this: somebody is coming to your country to work and benefit your economy but your government is like: "no, you're not welcome." What the hell! That is stupid.
Let me tell you all a story (just to show you how ridiculous the system is):
When I was in America, I met a US citizen who was an extremist Muslim. He was such a fundamentalist guy, I am sure he would fit right in the community here, if he could come here, or even join ISIS. But guess what? He is not allowed to come here (immigration laws). I am also not allowed to live there in America.
Do you guys see my point? This system of making it hard for you to leave or come in just makes things infinitely complicated.
So that dude, instead of being allowed here to join his nation of Islam, he stays there in the US and chances are some day commit terrorism over there. And me? I'll just rot in here all by myself dreaming that one day I'll become rich and happy.