by Howard V » Sat Apr 10, 2010 8:49 pm
It would seem from history that all governments [I'm not aware of an exception], regardless of the well intended beginning, tend to be based on control [lack of freedom] or to slowly slide into control [lack of freedom] as time passes - and sometimes it is a very short time indeed. This is not an argument for anarchy. It is merely a recognition of the pernicious nature of human beings. That is how we do things.
Some of us decry the greed and heartlessness of [big] business. Others of us decry the greed and heartlessness of [big] government. It is right that both be decried. And, as either grow [become bigger] their power to do the 2 things decried increases. Power does tend to corrupt. As power approaches being total the corruption increases likewise. This seems to hold true for people, even "good" people also.
I trust neither business nor government to do the right thing. Both are always - yes I said always - seeking to grow themselves. Both have to get bigger to do more, and that without much regard as to the goodness or the morality of the "more." Such growth leads to less freedom [at least that is historically true].
G. K. Chesterton's quip still stands. "Civilization is a marvelous idea. Someone ought to try it."
Howard