🚀 go-pugleaf

[From Bill Powers (990429.1144 MDT)]

Bruce Gregory (990429.1115 EDT)]

>Bill Powers (990429.0712 MDT)
>
>> I _would_ like to know what word you use to refer to one
>> person using force
>> or the credible threat thereof to control another person's behavior.
>> Evidently you use "coercion" to mean something else, or
>> perhaps you don't
>> see the credible threat of force as being as effective as the
>> actual use of
>> force.
>
>As you know, all societies use "the credible threat of force" to
>maintain social order. If you believe there is a difference between The
>People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom you must go beyond the
>simple existence of the credible sense of force to model this
>difference.
]
There is a difference between less pleasant and more pleasant societies in
how many other approaches are used before force is threatened or used. In
some societies (and homes) force is the first resort; in others, the last.
I would prefer to live under a system in which it is the last resort.

Of course I would prefer even more to live under a system in which coercion
is not used at all, except in defense against violence by others. But there
seem to be no societies in which people are smart enough to figure out how
to live that way.

Anyway, I guess you're saying that if coercion is done in a country like
China it's bad, but if we do it, it's all right. Or were you making some
other point?

Best,

Bill P.