@HeavenlyPossum I have no background in any of this, so excuse my dumb questions: isn't there a prisoner's dilemma-like element here? Aren't you at the mercy of any single person (or group) who decides they hate all your bothersome negotiating and simply takes up arms to force their will? If they decide they're the state now, aren't you (and your society) powerless, since you cannot coerce/force them to stop? It all seems to collapse upon contact with any disagreeable person(s).