Notable Quote - The State as Borg - Granite Grok

Notable Quote – The State as Borg

Picard-kidnapped by Borg SciFiFantasyNetwork

The totalitarian state aims at obliterating all distinctions between itself and the citizenry (society) by penetrating and controlling every aspect of organized life. -Richard Pipes (Communism: A History)

Mussolini’s infamous quote also comes to mind: “All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state”.

The genius of our Founding Fathers, whose goal was to provide an environment for maximal Individual Liberty within an “ordered” Society (think “functioning”, not being ordered about) was in their vision of the relationship of Government, Civil Society, and Individuals.  Government was to be limited – only as much “government” as necessary to maintain that “ordering”.  Civil Society, on the other hand was where the vast majority of interactions would be seen between Individuals (and voluntary associations therein) and be a self-regulating entity with its own “norms” acting as unwritten but widely accepted strictures on behavior.  Most “ordering” would happen in this sphere WITHOUT the heavy hand of Government.

It was also supposed to protect Individuals, to be that large and expansive buffer, in checking the Power and intrusiveness that the Founders knew would / could happen without both the legal (Constitution)  and informal pushback.

All in service of we, the Individuals.

Unfortunately, we have been seeing the constant incremental encroachment of Government into the other two “parts” since the Progressive movement started in the 1880s.  Why?

They think you all are stupid and can only be “successful” with the “gentle hand” of Government. Thus, we’ve seen the constant takeover by Law and the use of tax money in one institution after another. It IS what Pipes’ quote warned us about – obliterating anything that stands between Government and the Individuals.

Charity is being replaced by Government handouts (e.g., Welfare) and the capturing of those former charities by the lure of easy money from Government (and accepting the “strings attached” which basically makes them an informal part of Government – but a real part, all declarations to the contrary).  Both Biden and Alexandria Ocassio-Cortez, Socialists / Communists at their cores, are happy with this 80 year journey.

We say we are the land of the Free – not with Government outstretching its tentacles in trying to “assimilate” us.  A Hive.

Are we past the point that we can even think of putting it into a burlap bag, tie a knot, and drown it in a bathtub?

Perhaps.  It will depend, however, on what YOU decided to do.

(H/T: Cafe Hayek)

 

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