Fishermen Flout Law, Save Lives
The migrants had been at sea for weeks, some of them months, with barely anything to eat and drink. Pictures circulated of migrants jumping into the water to grab scarce food thrown from helicopters. The Indonesian government, however, said that if it took in the Rohingya migrants, many more would follow. And that would create "social issues." It warned the fishermen against helping them.
But here in the province of Aceh, on the northern tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the everyday people who would be most affected by an influx of refugees didn't agree with their government. Rami and the other fishermen said they could not just stand by while the authorities did nothing. In total, the fishermen of Aceh have rescued some 1,500 migrants since the beginning of May. Rami said he would do it again. – Global Post, May 29, 2015
Government action is necessary, we are told, to solve thorny social problems and keep everyone safe. The Rohingya refugees prove the point wrong. One government drove them into desperation and exile, several other governments refused to help and humble citizens showed enough human decency to save hundreds of lives.
The Indonesian government, well aware refugee craft were in the area, warned local fishing vessels not to help them. Indonesian fishermen instead followed the long seafaring tradition that says lives always come first.
The Global Post report relates how Indonesians ashore rushed to accommodate and feed the refugees, again over the objection of local officials. Faced with a fait accompli, Indonesia's government grudgingly said the Rohingya could stay for one year while it figured out a place for them to go.
Stories like this raise some interesting questions of political order. Do nation-states have a right to control who enters from the outside? If so, what kind of restrictions are reasonable? How do you handle situations like this one, where turning away immigrants could well lead to their deaths?
In this case, Indonesia's hands-off policy actually gave us a case study in how people can solve problems spontaneously, without political direction.
The fishermen observed people who needed help, and helped them. People in their port city welcomed the surprise visitors and took care of their basic needs. Did the government orchestrate this? No, quite the opposite. The government tried to stop it – and failed.
If this is what happens when government gets out of the way, then government should get out of the way more often. Humans everywhere, given freedom to make their own choices, will usually make good ones.
We don't need government to turn chaos into order. Most of the time it will happen anyway. This is but one small example. We would see many more if government were not so all-pervasive.
You don’t have to play by the rules of the corrupt politicians, manipulative media, and brainwashed peers.
When you subscribe to The Daily Bell, you also get a free guide:
How to Craft a Two Year Plan to Reclaim 3 Specific Freedoms.
This guide will show you exactly how to plan your next two years to build the free life of your dreams. It’s not as hard as you think…
Identify. Plan. Execute.
Yes, deliver THE DAILY BELL to my inbox!
Your $50 Ticket to the "$100 Billion Pot Stock Bonanza"
The $100 billion marijuana industry is dominated by penny stocks...
With legalization sweeping the country, these penny stocks have already begun skyrocketing in price...
Take action TODAY, and you have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn a tiny $50 investment into an absolute fortune.
Biggest Currency Reboot in 100 Years? In less than 3 months, the biggest reboot to the U.S. dollar in 100 years could sweep America. It has to do with a quiet potential government agreement you’ve never heard about. >>>>>Click here now for the details<<<<<