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Topic: How does ancap deal with an oil spill? - page 5. (Read 5864 times)

administrator
Activity: 5222
Merit: 13027
July 18, 2012, 03:16:39 PM
#7
The company pays because if it doesn't the victims' protection agencies will attack the company.
hero member
Activity: 812
Merit: 1000
July 18, 2012, 03:16:07 PM
#6
Let's make a hypothetical. Imagine a completely anarcho-capitalist world. I guess all the oceans and seas have been somehow privatized (how?).

A firm is operating an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and it explodes.

What happens? Who pays to clean up? Who pays reparations to all of the people affected (e.g. fishermen who just lost their jobs)? Would their be any concern for all of the life destroyed?

Oceans can, and would be, owned just like land is. A large area like the center of the gulf would probably be owned by a large company, or perhaps jointly by several, each using the sea for one type of activity or another. Let's say the patch where the oil rig was is owned by the oil company, a fishing company, and a shipping company. Each uses a different part of the waters, so nobody really gets in anyone's way, and they have a pretty happy partnership.

Until the oil rig goes BOOM. Now, the oil is spilling into the fishing company's waters, possibly mucking up the motors of the shipping company, and that's just it's immediate neighbors. As the oil reaches the shore, more and more people are affected by the spill.

Now for the big question: Who pays? The oil company will pay for cleanup, and for any damages done by the oil. Those damages would include any marine life harmed, for instance, to the fishing company that shared the oil rig's waters, as well as lost wages to the fishermen, not to mention death benefits to anyone who didn't make it off the rig.

It's likely that the oil company goes out of business, paying all this, and everyone up the chain of command from the safety inspector at the rig (assuming he didn't pay the ultimate price) up to the CEO would probably go broke, paying restitution. Pretty big incentive for safety.

This is a somewhat sensible post. Certainly the best I've seen from the Libertarian camp regarding ocean ownership. At least it beats the absurdities proposed by others, which have included nets in the ocean to demarcate property borders, and the laughable concept of herding whales. A thumbs up to myrkul for not exploring such ridiculous ideas when compelled to address private ownership of the oceans.
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1002
July 18, 2012, 03:13:50 PM
#5
Let's make a hypothetical. Imagine a completely anarcho-capitalist world. I guess all the oceans and seas have been somehow privatized (how?).

A firm is operating an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and it explodes.

What happens? Who pays to clean up? Who pays reparations to all of the people affected (e.g. fishermen who just lost their jobs)? Would their be any concern for all of the life destroyed?

Oceans can, and would be, owned just like land is. A large area like the center of the gulf would probably be owned by a large company, or perhaps jointly by several, each using the sea for one type of activity or another. Let's say the patch where the oil rig was is owned by the oil company, a fishing company, and a shipping company. Each uses a different part of the waters, so nobody really gets in anyone's way, and they have a pretty happy partnership.

Until the oil rig goes BOOM. Now, the oil is spilling into the fishing company's waters, possibly mucking up the motors of the shipping company, and that's just it's immediate neighbors. As the oil reaches the shore, more and more people are affected by the spill.

Now for the big question: Who pays? The oil company will pay for cleanup, and for any damages done by the oil. Those damages would include any marine life harmed, for instance, to the fishing company that shared the oil rig's waters, as well as lost wages to the fishermen, not to mention death benefits to anyone who didn't make it off the rig.

It's likely that the oil company goes out of business, paying all this, and everyone up the chain of command from the safety inspector at the rig (assuming he didn't pay the ultimate price) up to the CEO would probably go broke, paying restitution. Pretty big incentive for safety.

And when that still doesn't cover it (or they refuse to pay since there is no state to enforce payment) heads will roll.
hero member
Activity: 532
Merit: 500
FIAT LIBERTAS RVAT CAELVM
July 18, 2012, 03:11:18 PM
#4
Let's make a hypothetical. Imagine a completely anarcho-capitalist world. I guess all the oceans and seas have been somehow privatized (how?).

A firm is operating an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and it explodes.

What happens? Who pays to clean up? Who pays reparations to all of the people affected (e.g. fishermen who just lost their jobs)? Would their be any concern for all of the life destroyed?

Oceans can, and would be, owned just like land is. A large area like the center of the gulf would probably be owned by a large company, or perhaps jointly by several, each using the sea for one type of activity or another. Let's say the patch where the oil rig was is owned by the oil company, a fishing company, and a shipping company. Each uses a different part of the waters, so nobody really gets in anyone's way, and they have a pretty happy partnership.

Until the oil rig goes BOOM. Now, the oil is spilling into the fishing company's waters, possibly mucking up the motors of the shipping company, and that's just it's immediate neighbors. As the oil reaches the shore, more and more people are affected by the spill.

Now for the big question: Who pays? The oil company will pay for cleanup, and for any damages done by the oil. Those damages would include any marine life harmed, for instance, to the fishing company that shared the oil rig's waters, as well as lost wages to the fishermen, not to mention death benefits to anyone who didn't make it off the rig.

It's likely that the oil company goes out of business, paying all this, and everyone up the chain of command from the safety inspector at the rig (assuming he didn't pay the ultimate price) up to the CEO would probably go broke, paying restitution. Pretty big incentive for safety.
hero member
Activity: 812
Merit: 1000
July 18, 2012, 02:38:53 PM
#3
I guess all the oceans and seas have been somehow privatized (how?).

You should not attempt privatization of fluid and complex interdependent resources which have great extent.
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1002
July 18, 2012, 02:21:58 PM
#2
Let's make a hypothetical. Imagine a completely anarcho-capitalist world. I

 guess all the oceans and seas have been somehow privatized (how?).

A firm is operating an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and it explodes.

What happens? Who pays to clean up? Who pays reparations to all of the people affected (e.g. fishermen who just lost their jobs)? Would their be any concern for all of the life destroyed?

Heads would roll.
sr. member
Activity: 292
Merit: 250
July 18, 2012, 02:19:14 PM
#1
Let's make a hypothetical. Imagine a completely anarcho-capitalist world. I guess all the oceans and seas have been somehow privatized (how?).

A firm is operating an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico and it explodes.

What happens? Who pays to clean up? Who pays reparations to all of the people affected (e.g. fishermen who just lost their jobs)? Would their be any concern for all of the life destroyed?
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