Source: Do Consumers Know What’s Best for Them?
Human nature is largely human nature regardless of culture, upbringing, etc. We all suffer from the many and various flaws of being human.
But over time, on the whole, for justice to prevail, for peace to follow, for prosperity to accumulate, to weave a common strength between us, we all need to be on the same proverbial playing field because we are all human, except for the reptilians and greys …just kidding!
If we want justice, it starts here with this concept – not some program drafted by bureaucrats in a governmentsl agency to somehow balance benefits or redistribute money for equalizing the general well-being of millions of people. Someone once said justice is consistent if nothing else – which by the way, begs the question: what is social justice? I’m still struggling with that one.
But I digress, back to the need for a level playing field. There is more than a grain of truth to that statement. It is the basis for what the true rule of law stands. It is what we are currently missing in most cultures and countries, including the United States. It should be respected, if not revered, not circumvented by excuse and subterfuge.
Rothbard, as only he so often crystalizes, wrote the following quoted from the above piece published by mises.org – very likely the finest organization devoted to educating all about the best and most equitable forms of economic thought and freedom.
“Thus, the privately hired expert flourishes in proportion to his ability, whereas the government expert flourishes in proportion to his success in currying political favor. Moreover, what incentive does the government expert have to care about the interests of his subjects? Surely he is not especially endowed with superior qualities by virtue of his government post. He is no more virtuous than the private expert; indeed, he is inherently less capable and is more inclined to wield coercive force. But while the private expert has every pecuniary incentive to care about his clients or patients, the government expert has no incentive whatever. He obtains his revenue in any event. He is devoid of any incentive to worry about his subject’s true interests.”
He does not say that a given governmental official cannot care, only that there is an inequality of incentive and accountability. That’s an unavoidable fact. And, over time, the lack of incentive and accountability, over time, over individuals, makes itself known.
Ultimately, it is about accountability. Those in the free market are always held to a higher standard of accountability because the “beneficiary” a/k/a customer is free to not avail themselves of such free market products or services. That’s choice which is the same as power.
Obviously, this is not the case with government where the “beneficiary” is the constituent. We are not always free to choose. In fact, we are very often forced. Mob rule controls. We go with the program or we are penalized – regardless of our agreement or acceptance of the program. That is less choice and therefore less power.
Is it any surpise we see the polarity in modern politics?
Some are willing to relinquish their power in favor of more government and some won’t – that’s a problem.
When one gains consent of another, the bar is higher for each and for the good of both. Both consent. Both agree. Both must trust. Both must win. Contrary to what we were taught in public school and often through private universities, force involves no trust. It is simply a smaller group of persons operating through one type of human organizatin known as government to bluntly force its agenda upon the non-consenting constituents.
Contrary to many a modern academic, we don’t need PhDs to fathom what are typically fundamental truths or actions of human nature – what Ludwig von Mises defined as praxeology. It really is that simple. For those of us who are a bit older and presumably wiser, the hard part is unwinding years of indoctrination and separating the good (becuase it wasn’t all bad) from the …really bad, for which there always seems to be some super arbitrary excuse by government or its priveleged interests.
Arbitrariness and justice are mutually exclusive.
What do you see in government that is arbitrary?
Can an unjust organization provide justice?
And, in turn peace?
And, by extension sustainable prosperity?
Is it so hard to understand the disparity in distribution of wealth when government provides cover to Big-Everything?
Can we expect it to change?
And, if not, what can we do?
Ultimately, the consumers will decide because they do know what is best for them.
Note: The views expressed are solely the opinion of the author.
Video/Image source: mises.org
Source: mises.org
