Dangerous Candidates

"That's right, Ice...Man, I am dangerous."
--Lt Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Top Gun)

Loyalists from both the Republican and Democratic parties claim that the presidential candidate from the other party is the most dangerous candidate they have ever seen.

Both sides are right.

As state power grows, anyone who benefits from the strong arm of government has much to lose if someone takes charge with the intentions of changing the state's redistributive power. Because Republicans and Democrats both favor more state power, albeit for different (in many cases only slightly different) policy ends, then both sides will naturally feel threatened by the prospect of losing control of the resources sent their way strong armed agents.

The biggest threat, of course, would come from a candidate that promises to dismantle the state entirely, thereby collapsing the benefits enjoyed by either Republican or Democrat principals.

In such case, we would be sure to see establishment Republicans and Democrats unite to condemn that candidate in true 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' fashion.