Homer Simpson: Not a bear in sight. The Bear Patrol must be working like a charm.
Lisa Simpson: That’s specious reasoning, Dad.
Homer: Thank you, dear.
Lisa: By your logic I could claim that this rock keeps tigers away.
Homer: Oh, how does it work?
Lisa: It doesn’t work.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: It’s just a stupid rock.
Homer: Uh-huh.
Lisa: But I don’t see any tigers around, do you?
[Homer thinks of this, then pulls out some money]
Homer: Lisa, I want to buy your rock.
[Lisa refuses at first, then takes the exchange]
Funny as it may be (and it certainly is) I know someone who used this Homerism in defense of State-funded police agencies, Aint That a Kick in the Head:
There would be more muggings if the police did not exist, and that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the most efficient protection service either. Clearly, this is a case of missing what is Unseen, for Callahan doesn’t notice the times that someone doesn’t rob him because of the influence of the State.
Au contraire my fine Austrian friend. This should not and is not an empirical argument (for instance, using your logic someone could justify the creation of an anti-asteroid agency. No asteroids? Thank the Dept of Anti-Asteroids, because without it there would be more asteroid attacks). It is impossible to know what the market would create in the absence of tax funded “enforcers” so suggesting that there would be more crime is invalid (unless you have a magic ball).Ironically, Gene can see who is robbing him: the State — taxation is no different than being robbed. Furthermore, the “police” are funded through confiscatory means: they force you to pay them so they can prevent Ugzug from forcing you to pay him.