In the current political landscape of America, there is a strange phenomenon that seems to have intensified over the years. As elections approach, the two main competing sides engage in a rhetoric of fear-mongering, each claiming that if the other side wins, catastrophes will ensue. This phenomenon is not unique to America but has been observed in Europe as well before the fall of the Soviet empire.
What is alarming is that each side believes that the government has become so powerful that it can seriously harm the interests and lifestyles of their members. The sense of security and liberty is diminishing, and no one feels safe from the reach of the government’s power.
It is not a matter of one side promising to do nothing while the other side actively plans to harm their opponents. Both sides intend to restrict the activities and choices of the opposing 50%, leading to a sense of resentment and anger among the losing side of the election. Instead of questioning the government’s power to harm them, the losers seek retaliation by vowing to win the next election and impose their own restrictions on the other side.
This vicious cycle of power struggle only serves to further empower the government and diminish individual liberties. The classical liberals and libertarians have long argued against this dangerous race to power, advocating for a system that promotes live and let live ideology. They believe in the importance of individual choice and autonomy, rather than the constant power struggle between two competing factions.
As Anthony de Jasay aptly defines liberalism as the presumption of deciding individually any matter that can be determined through both individual and collective choice, it is clear that a balance must be struck to prevent the government from becoming too powerful and infringing on individual freedoms. Economic analysis has shown that with the right institutional background, individual choices can lead to a free and self-regulated society.
In conclusion, the Red Queen and the Blue Queen running to seize the throne and harm each other’s followers only perpetuates a cycle of power struggle and conflict. It is essential to reevaluate the role of government and prioritize individual liberties to ensure a prosperous and free society for all.
