A state’s basic functions are to:

1. preserve its borders

2. protect peace

3. honor private property rights

4. enforce contract law

5. ensure there’s non-violent means for dispute resolution.

These are means of guarding people so as to allow commerce to be conducted smoothly.

A traditional empire produces security.

They have this saying about Genghis Khan and the Mongols - when they controlled all of Asia, a virgin could’ve ridden from one end of the empire to the other with a pot of gold on her head without being molested.

The Mongols made a point - don’t fuck with the system. If anything gets stolen/anybody gets hurt, they show up with an army and kill everybody for 100 miles in every direction.

The #1 export of the U.S is security. If you look at its bases, they’re basically everywhere besides China and Russia.

-- an excerpt from the Saylor Series Episode 2 - the Rise of Man through the Dark and Steel Ages, its 2-minute version can be found here https://www.2minutebitcoin.org/blog/saylor-series-episode-2-the-rise-of-man-through-the-dark-and-steel-ages-robert-breedlove