,9SURRECTION 9 ,OMELAS 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,WILLIAM ,GILLIS 

,TEXT 3 

,9 ,URSULA ,K ,LE ,GU9'S CLASSIC %ORT 0,! ,ONES ,:O ,WALK ,AWAY ,FROM ,OMELAS0 %E CONSID]S A PROSP]\S & HAPPY SOCIETY :OSE SUCCESS IS SOMEH[ PUR*AS$ ?R\< A D>K B>GA9 -- ! TORTURE & ABJECT IMMIS]ATION ( A S+LE *ILD4 ,DESPITE ! POSITIVE GOOD WON = ! MANY1 A FEW />RY-EY$ *ILDR5 ( ,OMELAS REFUSE TO TEMP] !IR HUNG] = A BETT] DEAL1 & REJECT ?IS O!RWISE UTOPIAN SOCIETY1 ALBEIT ) NO ALT]NATIVE BLUEPR9T 9 H&4 ,SIMPLY 9SI/+ ?AT !RE MU/ BE SOME?+ BETT]1 OR ?AT !IR LIVES %\LD BE DEVOT$ TO AT LEA/ SE>*+ = IT4 

,TO OPPON5TS ( M>KETS !Y POSE AN EQUIVAL5T FAU/IAN B>GA92 NO MEASURE ( BACKGR\ND WEAL? & TE*NOLOGICAL ADVANCEM5T IS WOR? ! PRICE ( SOCIAL HI]>*IES ( WEAL? OR EV5 A S+LE P]SON 9 POV]TY4 ,MANY W\LD RA!R LIVE 9 AN 0EQUALITY ( ! MUD0 ) NO ECONOMIC B5EFITS BEYOND SUBSI/5CE F>M+ IF IT AVOID$ EV5 A S+LE P]SON1 DISABL$ & )\T FRI5DS1 />V+ OR BE+ =C$ TO PRO/RATE !MSELVES BE=E A *>ITY4 ,NEV] M9D ! FEASIBILITY ( !IR ALT]NATE PROPOSALS1 ,I AM DEEPLY SYMPA!TIC TO ?IS EVALUATION4 ,9 FACT ,I HAVE ALWAYS BE5 MORE ( ! M9D ?AT ?OSE M]ELY WALK+ AWAY >E ABDICAT+ A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DO MORE4 ,M]E EXIT IS NO MORE ?AN ! GUTLESS WIP+ ( ONE'S [N H&S4 ,! AN>*I/ CRY IS ?AT SO LONG AS EV5 A S+LE P]SON 9 ! UNIV]SE IS OPPRESS$ WE [E !M ACTIVE RESI/ANCE4 ,& OPPRESSION CAN OBVI\SLY LOOK LIKE IMPOV]I%M5T 9 MAT]IAL FRE$OMS1 AS WELL AS SEV]E DIFF]5CES 9 RELATIVE CAPACITY OR /ATUS4 

,! C5TRAL PROBLEM ) LIB]ALISM IS ?AT IT CON/RUCTS 0GOOD 5\<0 SOCIETIES1 SO LOCALLY OPTIMAL ?AT NO EASY TRANSITION CAN BE UND]TAK5 TO IMPROVE !M EXCEPT ?R\< TITANIC CATA/ROPHE4 ,TO SECURE SOME ADVANCES OR B5EFITS1 LIB]ALISM BUILDS UP WALLS AGA9/ FUTURE IMPROVEM5TS1 A TRADE(F IT CALLS PRAGMATISM4 ,& 9EVITABLY !SE WALLS ALL[ :AT POSITIVES IT SECURES TO BE ]OD$ AWAY 9T]NALLY4 

,SO H[ W\LD WE AVOID ,OMELAS SITUATIONS 9 SOME UTOPIAN AN>*I/ M>KET8 ,IF WE W]E ABLE TO EQUALIZE WEAL? 9 SOME MAGICAL REVOLUTION & = ! FIR/ TIME LAUN* AN ACTUAL FRE$ M>KET1 H[ MI<T WE AVOID GETT+ ACCID5TALLY LOCK$ 9 AT SOME /ABLE PO9T -- SOME LOCAL OPTIMUM -- ) AN UND]CLASS8 ,!RE >E MANY NORMS & 9/ITUTIONAL CONFIGURATIONS OR DI/RIBUTIONS POSSIBLE 9 A M>KET4 ,PA? DEP5D5CE MI<T BE A ?+ &1 BY QUIRK ( R&OM TRAJECTORIES1 WE MI<T 5D UP 9 A DECID$LY LESS ?AN EGALIT>IAN CONFIGURATION4 ,P]HAPS EV5 ONE :]E ! IMMIS]ATION ( A FEW IS QUITE %>P1 & YET ! :OLE ECONOMY 0P>ETO OPTIMAL40 ,EV5 IF A SITUATION IS NOT TE*NICALLY P>ETO OPTIMAL A M>KET MAY HAVE SU* A W>P$ ECOSY/EM AS TO MAKE ! GRADUAL RESOLUTION ( ?IS 9EFFICI5T SATIATION ( DESIRE 9VOLVE PROHIBITIVELY LONG TIMESCALES4 ,:AT DOES IT MATT] TO ! DE FACTO SLAVES 9 A COMPANY T[N ?AT !Y C\LD SL[LY SAVE 5\< OV] C5TURIES TO EV5TUALLY LIB]ATE !MSELVES & COMPETE AGA9/ ! COMPANY 5SLAV+ !M8 

,WELL ,I ?9K ! ANSW] DEP5DS ON GO+ BACK TO ! DIFF]5CES BETWE5 M>KET PRESCRIPTIONS & NON M>KET PRESCRIPTIONS & ANALYTICALLY EXT5D+ \R EXI/+ SOLUTIONS TO C]TA9 PROBLEMS4 

,P>T ( ! AN>*I/ >GUM5T = M>KETS IS ?AT !Y PROVIDE A C\NT]PRESSURE TO A P]SI/5T PROBLEM ( OPPRESSION 9 NON-M>KET SOCIETIES4 ,9 A GIFT ECONOMY Y\R SOCIAL /&+ & TIES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE 9 DET]M9+ Y\R LIVELIHOOD4 ,EMB$D$ 9 A COMMUNITY OR SOCIAL L&SCAPE Y\ >E AT RISK ( BE+ DEP5D5T UPON GAMES ( SOCIAL CAPITAL4 ,TO BE A P>IAH1 TO HAVE A DIFF]5T BRA9 >*ITECTURE1 OR EV5 TO SIMPLY BE LESS GREG>I\S ?AN O!RS1 C\LD MEAN DEA? OR EXCLUSION FROM ! MEANS ( PRODUCTION OR BASIC NE$S4 ,:ATEV] EGALIT>IAN VALUES AN 9/ITUTION OR COMMUNITY MI<T PROCLAIM1 !RE'S NO?+ OBJECTIVELY =C+ !M TO /ICK TO SU*4 ,SMALL T[NS & HIPPIE COMMUNES (T5 5D UP LOOK+ A LOT LIKE ,OMELAS4 ,FUR!R1 EV5 IF NO ONE D5IES Y\ FOOD1 ! IMPLICIT /ATUS HI]>*IES ( *>ITY CAN BE ALL ! MORE P]NICI\S 9 A SOCIETY :]E !Y CON/ITUTE ! F9AL WORD ON EV]Y?+ -- :E!R ?R\< ! C5TRALIZ$ COMMUNE OR A DEC5TRALIZ$ WEB ( FRI5DS Y\ >E EXPECT$ TO MA9TA94 

,TO RESOLVE ?IS ISSUE WE CAN EXP& :AT IS POSSIBLE 9 \R AN>*I/ ECONOMY BY P]MITT+ PEOPLE TO MAKE SPOT TRANSACTIONS1 ?AT IS TO SAY EX*ANGES1 ?US FACILITAT+ COLLABORATION BETWE5 /RANG]S OR UNTRU/+ ASSOCIATES4 ,Y\ MAY BECOME A P>IAH 9 ! NEI<BORHOOD ASSOCIATION_/COMMUNE = Y\R FA%ION S5SE OR UNCUT LAWN BUT Y\ WILL /ILL BE ABLE TO B5EFIT FROM ECONOMIC COLLABORATION_/COMPETITION ON ! M>KET1 ! NETWORK ( EX*ANGES1 ?US PROVID+ A PRESSURE VALVE TO *ECK ! P]NICI\S ABUSES ( SOCIAL CAPITAL7ISM74 

,IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE H]E ?AT A GIFT ECONOMY CAN BE CONSID]$ A M>KET -- ALBEIT DE=M$ FROM ITS FULL POT5TIAL -- LIMIT$ TO A />K SUBSET ( POSSIBLE FE$BACK LOOPS & 9=MATION FL[S4 ,PROPON5TS ( GIFT ECONOMIES (T5 OBJECT TO EX*ANGE ITSELF AS UNE?ICAL BECAUSE IT >GUABLY ALL[S1 5C\RAGES1 OR FUNDAM5TALLY 9VOLVES COMPETITION1 SOME?+ SE5 AS LESS ?AN 0FRI5DLY0 & ?US OBJECTIVELY UNE?ICAL4 ,ONE COMMON REFRA9 FROM ! ,GRAEB]IANS IS1 0,IF Y\ FULLY TRU/$ ONE ANO!R !RE'D BE NO PO9T TO DO A SPOT TRANSACTION40 

,:AT'S FASC9AT+ TO ME IS ! DEGREE TO :I* MO/ AN>*O-CAPITALI/ 0WALM>T M9US ! /ATE0 MODELS ( A SUPPOS$LY IDEAL M>KET !MSELVES DEP5D UPON CUTT+ \T A VA/ V>IETY ( POSSIBLE FE$BACK LOOPS ON ULTIMATELY SIMIL> RATIONALES4 

,BY TAK+ PROP]TY TITLES AS A GIV5 -- AS AN OBJECTIVE E?ICAL REALITY1 AS NATURAL LAW -- !Y SUPPRESS ! HAGGL+ OV] :I* TITLES PEOPLE FEEL 9CL9$ TO RESPECT4 

,JU/ AS ! ADVOCATES ( GIFT ECONOMIES W\LD SUPPRESS ! AUTONOM\S EM]G5CE ( EX*ANGE1 ! ADVOCATES ( 0WALM>T M9US ! /ATE0 M>KETS REQUIRE ! SUPPRESSION ( !FT1 SABOTAGE1 ASSASS9ATION1 ETC4 ,?AT IS TO SAY ISSUES EM]G+ FROM CONTE/$ CLAIMS4 ,! POLYC5TRIC LEGAL SY/EM ( SU* ANCAPS IS JU/ ASSUM$ TO REA* & MA9TA9 A NE> P]FECT EQUILIBRIUM 7HE$+ CLOSELY TO SOME SUPPOS$ 0NATURAL LAW074 ,BUT IT IS 9 FACT AN IMPORTANT COMPON5T ( AU/RIAN >GUM5TS ?AT1 :ILE M>KETS HAVE EQUILIBRAT+ T5D5CIES1 !Y >E NEV] 9 EQUILIBRIUM4 ,& ?+S LIKE !FT & SABOTAGE CAN !MSELVES BE CRITICAL M>KET FUNCTIONS -- 9 ! MORE PRIMORDIAL REPUTATION M>KET PRIOR TO ! EM]G5CE ( ANY CONS5SUS ON TITLES4 ,!RE WILL PROBABLY ALWAYS BE A FEW PEOPLE ON ! M>G9S :O SEE LITTLE OR NO REASON = MUTUALLY B5EFICIAL DET5TES TO RECOGNIZE ! CLAIM$ TITLES ( C]TA9 O!R PEOPLE1 OR EV5 !IR LIVES4 

,:ILE !RE >E REASONS WE %\LD EXPECT & 5C\RAGE BROAD SETTLEM5T ON M>KET NORMS & PEACEFUL COHABITATION -- & ?US IMP$E SOME ( !SE REPUTATIONAL DYNAMICS TO SOME DEGREE -- TO EXCLUDE !M 5TIRELY IS TO REMOVE FE$BACK ME*ANISMS BY :I* ! M>KET CAN C\RSE-CORRECT ITSELF4 ,JU/ AS ACCEPT+ AT LEA/ SOME MEASURE ( TRADE & RIVALR\S COMPETITION ALL[S = GREAT] PROSP]ITY 7& ?US ! CAPACITY TO GIFT MORE71 SO TO DOES ACCEPT+ SOME MEASURE ( !FT1 SABOTAGE1 ASSASS9ATION1 ETC ALL[ = GREAT] PROSP]ITY BY TE>+ D[N & DIS9C5TIVIZ+ C5TRALIZ$ CANC]\S MONOPOLIES ( WEAL?1 P[]1 ETC1 ?US ALL[+ ! BROAD] ECONOMY TO RUN SMOO!R4 

,IF EV5 ONE P]SON IS TRULY TRAPP$ & IMMIS]AT$ 9 ,OMELAS !RE IS A PRESSURE VALVE3 !Y CAN REVOLT4 ,! DE/ITUTE CAN /EAL FROM ! RI*4 ,?OSE SUBJECT TO NEGATIVE 5VIRONM5TAL EXT]NALITIES CAN SABOTAGE ! FACTORIES ( ?OSE RESPONSIBLE4 ,! OPPRESS$ CAN ELIM9ATE ?OSE HOLD+ P[]4 ,IF1 DESPITE ! BE/ 9T5TIONS ( AN>*I/S1 A FRE$ M>KET GOES AWRY = SOME REASON & />TS TO DEVELOP CANC]\S ACCUMULATIONS ( WEAL? & P[]1 OR JU/ ! CATA/ROPHIC IMMIS]ATION ( A FEW1 AS A SOLUTION WE W\LD NOT REQUIRE SOME B9>Y REVOLUTION1 SOME UNIV]SALLY DISRUPTIVE JUBILEE ?AT ONCE AGA9 RESETS ! PLAY+ FIELD TO TRY A FRE$ M>KET AGA91 RA!R RESI/ANCE CAN BE MU* MORE NUANC$ & GRADUAL4 ,RA!R ?AN A 0P]MAN5T REVOLUTION0 A P]MAN5T 9SURRECTION1 AT LEA/ AT ! M>G9S4 

,IT'S WOR? NOT+ H[ MU* SMOO!R ?IS IS ?AN CONFLICTS )9 COMMUNES1 OR ! 0T[N%IPS0 ?AT ,KROPOTK9 SAID W\LD BE ABLE TO SOMEH[ COLLECTIVELY DECIDE TO D5Y SPECIFIC PEOPLE FOOD1 ETC4 ,IF A S+LE P]SON />TS MONOPOLIZ+ TITLE OV] A RES\RCE TO ! DETRIM5T ( EV]YONE1 O!R 9DIVIDUALS CAN />T AUTONOM\SLY DISREG>D+ !IR CLAIM$ TITLE4 ,9SURRECTION>Y =MS ( RESI/ANCE ?US REMA9 AN OPTION1 & >E LIKELY TO SMOO?LY 9CREASE 9 FREQU5CY & /R5G? AS A CONC5TRATION GR[S MORE P]NICI\S4 ,?IS 9DIVIDUAL-TO-9DIVIDUAL RESI/ANCE IS MU* MORE GRADUAL & FLUID ?AN ! RESI/ANCE NECESS>Y TO OV]COME ! $ICTS ( A COLLECTIVE 5TITY4 

,MILD P]TURBATIONS ( WEAL? >E NOT OBJECTIVE1 BECAUSE VALUE IS NOT OBJECTIVE1 ESPECIALLY 9 AN ACTUALLY-EXI/+ M>KET ?AT NEV] P]FECTLY CLE>S &_/OR A FRE$ M>KET ?AT DOESN'T COLLAPSE ITS TRANSMITT$ 9=MATION TO PRICES 9 A S+LE UNIV]SAL CURR5CY4 ,IT'S ?US A BAD IDEA = ?OSE >\ND ! M$IAN WEAL? TO DISRESPECT EA* O!RS' PROP]TY CLAIMS4 ,G5]AL UPHEAVAL OR CONTE/ATION ( TITLES DOESN'T B5EFIT ANYONE1 EV5 IF Y\R H\SE IS SOME:AT SMALL] ?AN Y\R NEI<BORS4 ,! RISK IS TOO HI<1 ! POSSIBLE PAY\T TOO SMALL1 /ABILITY A G5]AL GOOD4 ,& ?US PR(IT SIGNALS CAN ACTUALLY WORK1 EX*ANGE HAPP51 ETC4 ,BUT 9 ! FACE ( SEV]E 9EQUALITY ! CO/-B5EFIT RATIO *ANGES4 

,NOTE ?AT ?IS PUTS CAPS ON MAXIMUM WEAL? )\T TURN+ TO ! >BITR>Y & DANG]\S MEANS ( ! /ATE4 ,NO /ATE PLANN] CAN KN[ :AT ! MAXIMUM WEAL? %\LD BE1 OR H[ H>D TO DIS9C5TIVIZE WEAL? ACCUMULATION PA/ A C]TA9 PO9T1 BUT ! M>KET CAN KN[4 ,! AGGREGATE KN[L$GE & NE$S ( POOR ?IEVES BE+ YET ANO!R M>KET PRESSURE1 F> MORE DEXT]\S ?AN SOME C5TRAL PLANN]4 ,& NOTE ALSO ?AT ?IS W\LD 5=CE A CAP ON WEAL?1 NOT REALLY A CAP ON 9COME4 ,AN 9SI<TFUL BUT POOR 5TREPR5EUR W\LD HAVE MORE TO GA9 ?AN A SIMIL>LY 9SI<TFUL 5TREPR5EUR QUITE COM=TABLY SITUAT$1 ?US FUR!R 5C\RAG+ A *URN ( WEAL?4 ,AFT] ALL IT IS TYPICALLY ?OSE ON ! BOTTOM :O HAVE MORE 9SI<TFUL 5TREPR5EURIAL IDEAS1 BE+ CLOS] TO ! P>TICUL>S ?AT NE$ SOLV+4 

,M>XI/S HAVE LONG SNE]$ ?AT AN>*ISM IS AN ALLIANCE BETWE5 ! PETITE B\RGEOISIE & ! LUMP5PROLET>IAT1 & SO IT IS ) SOME RELI% ?AT ,I HAVE LONG NOT$ ?IS NOTION ( A FRE$ M>KET ?AT EMBRACES 9SURRECTION CON/ITUTES !IR WOR/ NI<TM>E4 ,( C\RSE ,I D\BT ANY PETITE B\RGEOISIE W\LD ACCEPT SU* AN EXP&$ M>KET1 GIV+ RELATIVE LIC5SE TO ! POOR TO RAID ! C(F]S ( ! RI* SO LONG AS ! 0MIDDLE CLASSES0 >E LEFT ALONE1 & A FEW CLASS W> IDEOLOGUES 9 AN>*I/ CIRCLES HAVE D]ID$ ME A LUMP5 & TRAITOR = NOT WANT+ TO CLEAVE ! HEADS (F MIDDLE CLASS SNOTS1 BUT ,I'M UN9T]E/$ 9 ! P>OXYSMS ( FULL REVOLUTION>Y VIOL5CE & ?9K ?IS PROPOSAL /RIKES A FAIR BALANCE4 

,BEYOND IRRITAT+ M>XI/S1 IT IS ALSO H]E ?AT ! TWO MO/ COMMON LIB]T>IAN >GUM5TS RADICALLY BREAK ) ONE ANO!R4 ,! CONSEQU5TIALI/ >GUM5T ?AT ! DEC5TRALIZATION & FE$BACK *ANNELS PROVID$ BY M>KETS 7LEV]AG+ ! ACCURACY ( REVEAL$ PREF]5CE ?R\< EX*ANGE7 ASSURES GREAT] DEXT]ITY & WEAL? = ALL ?AN C5TRALIZ$ SY/EMS GR9DS 9TO CONFLICT ) ! DEONTOLOGICAL >GUM5T = RESPECT+ PROP]TY AS SOME K9D ( A PRIORI 0NATURAL LAW40 

,I'VE >GU$ ?IS POSITION SEV]AL TIMES BE=E1 UND]L9+ ?AT REPUTATION & 9T]P]SONAL RELATION%IPS >E 9ALI5ABLE TO M9DS 9 A WAY ?AT PHYSICAL GOODS >E NOT1 BUT IT'S ALSO WOR? EMPHASIZ+ ! UNITY ?IS (F]S BETWE5 ! TWO HI/ORICAL BRAN*ES ( 9DIVIDUALI/ AN>*ISM3 9SURRECTION>Y & M>KET4 

,MANY AN>*I/ ADMIR]S ( M>KETS = !IR DYNAMISM HAVE LONG ALSO ADMIR$ ! DYNAMISM AT PLAY 9 9SURRECTION & F\R? G5]ATION W>F>E1 BUT ! !ORETICAL SYN]GY ON ?IS FRONT IS 9SUFFICI5TLY EXAM9$4 ,IT MAY EV5 BE ! CASE ?AT 9 AN AN>*I/ SOCIETY SOME BACKGR\ND MEASURE ( 0!FT0 MAY COME TO S]VE AS AN 9DICATOR ( ! HEAL? ( \R ECONOMY1 9 ! SAME WAY ?AT C]TA9 NEOCLASSICALS ?9K SOME MEASURE ( UNEMPLOYM5T SECURES ! HEAL? ( 7! CAPITALI/ CLASS 97 A CAPITALI/ ECONOMY4 

,TODAY'S NEOREACTION>IES FETI%IZE ! NOTION ( 0EXIT0 FROM A SOCIETY1 PLAY+ ! 0IF ?+S GET BAD 5\< Y\ CAN ALWAYS JU/ LEAVE0 C>D1 & MANY AN>*I/S ADVOCAT+ /RONG & P]SI/5T COLLECTIVE BODIES HAVE ! SAME FLIPPANCY TO CONC]NS AB\T :AT TO DO IF ?+S />T TO GO BAD 9 !IR UTOPIAS4 ,BUT NOT ONLY IS SU* 0EXIT0 ALL OR NO?+1 IT IMPLICITLY ACCEPTS ! LEGITIMACY ( ?OSE COLLECTIVE 5TITIES1 OR AT LEA/ C]TA9 0DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES0 = APPEAL+ AGA9/ CAPRICI\S OR OPPRESSIVE COLLECTIVE $ICTS4 ,BUT :Y %\LD Y\ HAVE TO LEAVE8 ,!Y'RE ! AS%OLES4 ,SIMIL>LY IF !RE >E JU/ A FEW ?+S GO+ WRONG 9 WAYS UNFIXABLE ?R\< ! COLLECTIVE PROCESS1 :Y %\LD Y\ HAVE NO *OICE BESIDES TOL]ANCE OR TOTAL CATACLYSMIC REVOLUTION8 

,M>KETS PROVIDE MU* MORE FLUID MEANS ( DETA*+ Y\RSELF FROM DEP5D5CE1 & ! UNION ( 9SURRECTION>Y & M>KET AN>*I/ 9SI<TS PROVIDES MU* SMOO!R & LESS DE/RUCTIVE MEANS TO RECTIFY ANY CREEP+ ACCUMULATIONS ( P[]4 

,IF 9 AN AN>*I/IC SOCIETY A ,ROBB] ,B>ON TYRANT OR SIMIL> 9/ANCE ( OPPRESSION W]E TO SOMEH[ />T TO EM]GE )\T ! HELP+ H& ( /ATE P[] AS ALL PRIOR HAVE1 WE NE$ NOT GIVE UP & FLEE1 & 9DE$ %\LD NOT4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b#a1 #bba 3 ,9SURRECTION 9 ,OMELAS -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,9SURRECTION 9 ,OMELAS -- ,UPDAT$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/