The “But who will build the roads?” argument is the oldest, dustiest, and most predictable line in the anti-liberty playbook. It’s trotted out by people who can’t imagine a world without the State — as if asphalt is some mystical resource that only governments can conjure.

But this question has always been a distraction. A diversion. A way to make you look at the ground instead of at the boot standing on your neck.

The real question isn’t who will build the roads — it’s what happens if you don’t want to pay for them?

Because here’s how the State operates:

1. They decide roads will be built.
2. They decide how, where, and at what cost.
3. They send you the bill — in taxes — whether you agree or not.
4. If you refuse to pay, you’ll be fined.
5. Refuse the fine? You’ll be arrested.
6. Resist arrest? You’ll be met with force.
7. Keep resisting? You could be killed.

That’s not hyperbole. That’s the entire logic of government funding — every “service” is backed by the threat of violence.

Roads Are Just the Excuse

The “roads” question pretends we’re debating logistics. In reality, we’re debating coercion. The State wants you to think public goods are gifts, but they’re not gifts at all. They’re ransoms you’ve already paid — whether you wanted the service or not.

In a truly free society, roads would still exist. They’d be built by those who benefit from them most — communities, businesses, and investors. The incentive would be to create roads that last, routes that make sense, and systems that serve the people who actually use them — without the moral cost of extortion.

The Prison Question

When someone asks “But who will build the roads?” ask them this: Who will build the prisons when you don’t comply with the government’s road plan? Who will write the laws that turn your refusal into a crime? Who will fund the enforcement of those laws? Who will point the gun at you for daring to say “No”?

This isn’t a debate about asphalt. It’s a debate about whether you believe people should be free to choose — or forced to obey.

What The Blueprint for a Stateless Society Says

This is exactly the kind of thinking The Blueprint for a Stateless Society dismantles. The book walks you through how voluntary systems replace coercive ones — not just for roads, but for everything. From infrastructure to healthcare, security to currency, the central lesson is clear: the moment we stop excusing force in one area, we begin to see how unnecessary it is in all areas.

If you want to stop arguing about who will build the roads — and start living in a society where no one can force you to fund something you oppose — the Blueprint will show you how.