  A difficulty with this view is that imposition of a massively coercive scheme either need pose no threat to individual autonomy or if it does pose a threat, does so only in circumstances in which the autonomy that is downgraded is worth very little. The law issues credible coercive threats that if, for example, I were to murder someone, I would be arrested, prosecuted, and subjected to capital punishment or a long prison sentence. If I have no desire whatsoever to murder anyone, the coercion sits on me light as a feather and does not reduce my autonomy. Suppose I developed a desire to murder someone and would act to satisfy the desire except that I am deterred by the law's coercive threats. Now arguably the law significantly impinges on my autonomy, but this is clearly a better state of affairs than would result if the criminal law penalties against murder were removed. Suppose on the other hand the law piles criminal penalties on a type of activity that is innocent and harmless such as walking on the beach. Here the coercion wrongfully restricts autonomy. The solution is to repeal the law. The concern then is that either the coercion imposed on individuals by the state is morally acceptable, in which case no special compensation is owed to those coerced, or it is morally unacceptable, in which case the coercion should be withdrawn. The picture of coercion constricting the autonomy of the coerced and thus presumptively wrong unless compensation is paid to the coerced appears to be fading away. And if this picture is not sustainable, then it cannot help explain why equality should be required within but not across national borders.