Mises Quotes

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

What is Government?

Law always comes from the past, something everyone knows by heart. The purpose of law is to protect us from 'injustice.' Naturally, all of us follow the law. There would always be few people, who may try to violate law if it can be easily escaped.  We need a government to make sure everyone follows 'the law'. This means government comes into the scene because 'law' already exists.

Precisely the role of Government is then 'administration of justice'. Everyone is free to enjoy their own life, liberty and property; rest assured of a mechanism in place to take care of 'injustice', if any.

When government starts manufacturing laws to achieve planned goals; the purpose of law is changed from protection to control. It changes from a servant to a master.

It simply enlarges it's own scope and squeezes down your free world. It has incentives for doing so, like increased budget means more to leak, new prohibitions opens door for selling favor and extortion from newly under grounded market.

Government is a designed monopoly, for, what otherwise can't be accomplished profitably. Problem starts when we enlarge it's scope to 'welfare' and 'development'. These important ends are certainly to be met; but through efficient systems like market and charity.

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