States have always thrived on the fear of the taxpayers, and states have always justified their existence in part on the idea that without the state, we'd all be overrun by barbarians, or murdered by our neighbors. Charles Tilly, a historian of the state, frequently noted that the modern state as we know it, was born out of war, and was created to wage war. War and the state are inseparable.
Moreover, support for the state is so central to maintaining continued funding and deference to the state's monopoly power, that Randolph Bourne famously went so far as to say that "war is the health of the state."
By extension, agents of the state — whether elected officials or bureaucrats — fancy themselves as guardians of prosperity and civilization. Without them, they apparently believe, life would be barely worth living.
Thus, one should hardly be surprised when government bureaucrats spread fear as a means of self-promotion.
Keeping this tradition alive is Department of Homeland Security John Kelly who recently claimed that people would "never leave the house" if they "knew what I know about terrorism."
More @ Zero Hedge
Yes, the purpose of the state in part is to war. And war can be necessary for defence.
ReplyDeleteWhat does one do when attacked by the British or by Amerindians? Pass out books by Hayek to one's aggressors?
Another purpose of the state is as Aristotle said, to provide for the good life.
The notion of the individual is just meant to break up Western society. We're supposed to choose between globalist individuals and globalist socialists. Any smaller group orientation is condemned as "fascist".
Pass out books by Hayek to one's aggressors?
DeleteThat should work! :)