New Frontiers in Political Reform

With nothing interesting to say about the 9/11 anniversary, I point you instead to a Washington Post story I somehow missed on Monday:

ECATEPEC, Mexico -- Park where you like, speed if you want to, run a red light, don't bother renewing your driver's license and let that seat belt flap in the wind. Nobody's going to bust you as long as Mayor Eruviel Avila Villegas is in charge.

Avila's first official act when he took office last month was to abolish parking and traffic fines in this city of 2.5 million people just north of Mexico City. Avila, 34, a soft-spoken lawyer with curly hair, is nobody's anarchist. He's just looking for radical new ways to solve one of Mexico's most annoying problems: cops demanding bribes.

The mayor's theory is that if police officers can't threaten drivers with tickets, they can't shake them down. "We are renewing and revolutionizing our city," he said. "People will always speed. They will always park illegally. But this way they won't have to pay bribes."

Comments

[Russ]

But wouldn't you feel better after you smashed his windshield?

[Anonymous]

Property is still sacred (even in Mexico)- what kind of libertarian are you, Russ?

[dhex]

sometimes the market has to issue corrections with a baseball bat.

besides, some people need to learn manners at the business end of a blunt weapon.

[Madog]

There's a novel concept. To prevent the government and it's officials from abusing thier power, then remove thier power.

And on the subject of breaking windsheilds, it can be argued that the car's owner has violated your property rights by preventing your use of your driveway. Having the car towed might be better though.

[Russ]

I'm a libertarian, not an anarchist... my post was inteded to be "tongue in cheek" and illustrate the failures of anarchy as a system for society.

Basically, my problem with anarchy is that it doesn't protect property rights, as the above example of vengeful window smashing would indicate.

[nm156]

Cool! It may not be the ideal solution, but give this guy props for trying something different.

[digamma]

If I had some jerk blocking my driveway with his car, I wouldn't think this such a hot policy.