Return to the Free Liberal Homepage

« Orwell update, musical edition | Main | Freedom of Speech...yeah, right »

Do we serve the state or does the state serve us?

Before I was even a libertarian I understood that the state was a creation of man and, at least in theory, it should benefit us. Since the concept of "state" is an abstraction, the idea of serving it seemed downright silly.

That is why I always felt John F. Kennedy's famous quote, "Ask not what your country can do for you...ask what you can do for your country," was a bit ridiculous. Why exactly should I be serving this nameless, faceless, unfeeling entity called the state? Sure, it may benefit politicians if I were to do so because they ultimately control the state, but do I really need to go out of the way to pitch in?

Sheldon Richman expounds on that theme far more thoroughly in response to the latest calls by the political elite for "national service." Of course, like the ridiculous Americorps program, it would be the involuntary payments of taxpayers who would foot the bill for these "volunteer efforts."

Free-for-all (frfr-ôl) -- n. A disorderly fight, argument, or competition in which everyone present participates.

from Dictionary.com



Advertisement
Free For All -- The Free Liberal Blog