What do you suppose would happen if he had put it out for bid in ebay?
Zack Bass wrote: > > > > Bob Halderman has been arrested and indicted for a Victimless Crime: > Offering to keep quiet about something David Letterman did, in > exchange for a couple of million dollars. > <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125449900451259695.html?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLEThirdNews > > <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125449900451259695.html?mod=WSJ_hps_MIDDLEThirdNews>> > > In a libertarian regime, this would not be punished, because Halderman > would perfectly justified in actually DOING what he offered to do > (keep quiet), and moreover would be perfectly justified in doing what > he "threatened" to do (expose Letterman's actions). Thus he did not > Initiate Force, nor did he Threaten to Initiate Force. > > But suppose Letterman had told him, "I won't pay you anything, but if > you do expose me I will ask the Authorities to imprison you for > Extortion." Then Letterman would not have been committing a Crime > under New York Law, even though this IS a Threat to Initiate Force. > > Thus New York Law makes a Crime of a Victimless Act, and does not > punish Initiation of Force and indeed encourages it and engages in it. > >
