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Comment by solveit | Hacker News Reader

Enforcement of property rights is basically the textbook example of a government function. Or do you want logistics companies to hire private armies?

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Railroads already have police, armored cars are allowed armed guards (as do other high-value shipments, I'm sure), retail stores have security (however neutered they may be).

I don't see why shoplifters are thrown in jail and wage thieves are not. Why do cops gun down shoplifters but won't lift a finger for wage thieves? Why don't cops bust down the doors of polluters? It's the selective enforcement of property rights I have a problem with. The enforcers already side with capital 9 times out of 10.

I understand that you have justified complaints, but saying stupid things (government should not go after retail and supply chain theft) in order to take potshots against "capital" does not make a good conversation and I would rather see less of it on HN. Obviously you want shoplifters to be prosecuted as well as wage thieves and polluters.

The original articles on this are already very sympathetic to capital, and so that’s the direction of my criticism. The story suggests we should feel bad for the railroad companies without any investigating whether the company itself could share some of the blame. Today there’s a story about how UP cut many of their security employees.

The original articles and discussion here on HN is surprisingly one-sided.

Obviously I don’t like railroad theft but let’s not send in the army to protect a supply chain which has perhaps been made too efficient.

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