In violent times, you shouldn't have to sell your soul
In black and white, they really, really ought to know
--Tears for Fears
Government is legitimized force. Governments are formed because of the human tendency to obtain the most gains for the least amount of effort. This tendency will cause some people to try to further their interests on the backs of others. We might label this proclivity as seeking something for nothing (SFN).
One purpose for the legimitized force of government is to help indiividuals defend their person and property against invasion by those pursuing SFN schemes such as murder, slavery, robbery, etc. This is the argument for government under the auspices of natural law. Government is an enabler of liberty when it helps individuals to pursue their interests free of forceful intervention by others.
The other purpose for the legitimized force of government is allow individuals to obtain SFN. The strong arm of government can be employed by some to expropriate resources from others. Government becomes an agent of force for some to better their interests at the expense of others. Those getting SFN are either monarchs or special interest groups that trade votes for political favor.
All political philosophies are grounded in one of these two purposes.
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2 comments:
The whole gospel of Karl Marx can be summed up in a single sentence: Hate the man who is better off than you are. Never under any circumstances admit that his success may be due to his own efforts, to the productive contribution he has made to the whole community. Always attribute his success to the exploitation, the cheating, the more or less open robbery of others. Never under any circumstances admit that your own failure may be owing to your own weakness, or that the failure of anyone else may be due to his own defects – his laziness, incompetence, improvidence, or stupidity.
~Henry Hazlitt
HH knew how to cut to the chase.
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