h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Would it be possible for example to buy some cigarettes say and sell them for 5p less than the government does, then everybody would come to you to buy their fags from your alternative system. You could do the same with food and charge say 5% less VAT. Everyone would go to you. You could supply the supermarkets because people would demand your product rather than the government's. You would therefore be taking in your own taxes. You could set up your own alternative parliamentary system with its own political parties; you could supply your own police force. Charge lower road tax; undertake road repairs yourself and so on. Create your own laws; completely force the government out. But they'll never let you sell the fags in the first place because basically they're running a cartel and there is no real competition on the system.