On: China's ancient water pipe networks show no eviden...

[rakkhi]

+1. I'm a massive free market guy but even I draw the line at infrastructure, health and education. Too many externalities.

That water infrastructure was built by a government. Especially in china

[andriesm → rakkhi]

Making the strong claim that this infrastructure was for a fact built by a government is not merited, unless you have some compelling evidence?

I am also not sure if the article's claim is merited - it sounds a little too convenient and I struggle to find the watertight case for it in the article. It could be a case of us simply not knowing either way, and thus should avoid making a strong claim for either A or not(A).

[lazide → rakkhi]

Co-ops build stuff like this all the time in rural areas.

[Ebree → rakkhi]

Elders of family in a way are also a government

[porkbeer → Ebree]

Yes, some backward nations still have kings, but thats a bit dated.