Abstract

A discussion about government and democracy, and what happens with time.

Unlimited Power

Governmental Growth

Colin Dixon Never all, there are always exceptions, the problem is welfare when considered as a right educates people to believe that its OK to steal property from people who have had the initiative to produce it. To quote Ayn Rand “A statist system—whether of a communist, fascist, Nazi, socialist or “welfare” type—is based on the . . . government’s unlimited power, which means: on the rule of brute force. The differences among statist systems are only a matter of time and degree; the principle is the same. Under statism, the government is not a policeman, but a legalized criminal that holds the power to use physical force in any manner and for any purpose it pleases against legally disarmed, defenseless victims.”¹

Anthony Condon A)Government doesn’t have unlimited power, we have separated powers. B) What power they do have isn’t necessarily by brute force, much government power is used through more subtle persuasive forces. For example, the government doesn’t force people to buy investment properties at the end of a barrel of a gun, they persuade them through tax incentives. C) The argument essentially says that any welfare state will end up with Soviet style gulags; now, that’s always a threat, but it is far from inevitabe. D) That line about the government being criminal is hyperbolic and misunderstanding the meaning of the word “criminal”; misunderstanding words and being hyperbolic is the core of Rand’s philosophy. E) The government can’t use power any way it wants, again, separation of powers. Ask Julia Gillard how her Malaysian Solution is going if you believe the government has unlimited power. F) We are not defenseless against our government; we have separation of powers, elections, civil actions, civil unrest and finally violent revolution as solutions to government that oversteps it’s bounds.In other words, in one simple quote you’ve managed to highlight at least six ways in which Rand has fundamentally misunderstood politics, economics and history. In short, Rand is an inconsistent quack – it’s not an ad hominem when the only thing she is consistent in is being wrong.

A) Government doesn’t have unlimited power..

Some do, and almost all restrict individual freedoms unnecessarily. Over time they all tend to increase their powers, I know of none that decrease them.

B) What power they do have isn’t necessarily by brute force.

Try to opt out of income tax. (unless you live inHuttRiverProvince) Laws are enforced by the Police at gun point if you resist.

C) The argument essentially says that any welfare state will end up with Soviet style gulags.

The tendency is for this to happen; historically this has been the way. Certainly as welfare increases, production decreases the monetary system collapses, just watch the news it’s happening now. The wealth created by capitalism is being destroyed.

D) That line about the government being criminal.

Taking property from someone is theft even if it is made legal by government.

E) The government can’t use power any way it wants.

Again my argument is not that it has unlimited powers, but that is where its heading, war, crisis, terrorism. How did Hitler come to power inGermany?

F) We are not defenceless against our government.

At last, we agree, and this is what I am advocating, government should be about protecting individual freedoms. Ayn Rand was certainly an interesting and flawed individual. I do not think you have proposed a better philosophy than objectivism though. You seem to be pro welfare, forget about the genuinely needy disabled old etc. I mean healthy people capable of working choosing not to. Getting money for nothing.

Acknowledgements