The Politics of My Brother's Keeper

Sofreh-ye Pretta Aghd makes a good point in her article Social Engineering University. Whenever we set out to become our brother's keeper, we strike a definitive and irreparable blow against the liberty of everyone. This is necessarily true, as we must restrict some freedom in order to impose security from some "evil" or perceived injustice.

And of course, more freedom, more liberty is NEVER discussed as an option. Deregulation is never the solution. Surely repealing the laws, regulations, restrictions, standards, guidelines, and quotas that created the problems to begin with is no way of treating this cancer!

You know, we say smoking causes disease and the obvious solution is to stop smoking. But no one is calling attention to the obvious cause of the most profane disease of our society: the government. We can see the disease, but we argue when someone points out the cause (and the cure). Not only do we deny the true causes, but we suggest band-aid solutions that may provide a bit of immediate temporary relief, but inevitably speed the growth of the tumor. (Medicare reform comes immediately to mind.)

This is akin to the crotchety old smokers who continue to puff down three packs a day and think that a good dose of broccoli will keep lung cancer at bay.

I'm afraid that this disease is terminal.