Libertarians vs government


Does the state create the problems it tries to solve?
I have been thinking about this since yesterday, and I keep coming back to the same conclusion.

Statists look at government to solve the problems. Libertarians think that most of the problems are caused by the state in the first place.

Libertarians accept it as a given that government mostly lies. When someone promises a utopia delivered by government, libertarians don't believe them.

Somehow that little bit of sacrifice needed to get things rolling never seems to be quite enough. So the next year they ask for more money, more authority, and a little bit more sacrifice. Every year it costs just a little more and the problem keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Somehow the money never gets completely spent where it is supposed to go. And somehow the authority is misused.

But it is never the fault of government. Not of it's agents, who by law can't be held liable. Not of the elected representatives who barely have time to get reelected, much less do things like read bills they are voting on. You can't hold them responsible. You just have to give them more time. More money. More authority. And a LITTLE BIT MORE SACRIFICE. Come on, you can do it. We're so close to solving the problems. It would be a shame to back out now when it will all be over soon.

We just have to grit our teeth and bear down. The government will save us. Just like they did in the War on Poverty. Or in public education. Or in underwriting pension funds. Or in flood insurance. Or in the War on Drugs. Or in saving the environment.

"Here I come to save the day!"

Sounds good. But let's see them deliver before we trust them.

— NeoWayland

Posted: Tue - September 27, 2005 at 04:55 AM  Tag


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