Friedrich August von Hayek Quote

"By giving the government unlimited powers,
the most arbitrary rule can be made legal;
and in this way a democracy may set up
the most complete despotism imaginable."

by:	Friedrich August von Hayek (1899-1992), Nobel Laureate of Economic Sciences 1974
Source:	The Road to Serfdom
Rating:
Categories:	Democracy, Despotism, Government, Law, Power, Tyranny
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-- jim k, Austin, Tx
Although the statement is absolutely accurate, the occupying statist theocracy infesting this land only uses democracy as a ruse to manipulate the helots, serfs, slaves and otherwise ignorant into thinking that voting in an unconstitutional despotism was their lawful right (as it would have been in harmony with the original intent of the representative republic's founders and natural law's freedom, liberty, and individual inalienable right.).  -- Mike, Norwalk      3
However many times it's been said before it bears repeating: great tyranny doesn't care in the least which end of the political spectrum it emanates from - the warfare state or the welfare state. Humans of all stripes yearn to RULE, believing they, personally, know what's best. Democracy arose in ancient Greece with the understanding that leadership left to its own devices, without strong public input, would surely devolve to the point of looking after its own interests (POWER) exclusively, everything and everybody else be damned. The ideal, I believe, can be found in simple balance, however impossible achieving balance may seem. Perhaps humanity may stumble upon such an ideal with the dawning idea that failure to balance properly now, in an age of virtually unchecked technological expansion, means, precisely, going the route of Atlantis.  -- Mann, Kalamazoo      3
Perhaps not 'balanced', Mann, but 'checked.' We are not trying to create a utopia, we are trying to protect our properties, our labors, and our rights. There are those that wish to rule others -- in a 'republican' (not democratic) form of government, this is to be kept in check -- we are not to create a seat of power from which anything and everything is to be declared for all. A 'democracy' that is left unchecked by the inalienable rights of each individual will eventually become mob rule with a few instigators at the top influencing the passions of the masses. Once the notion that government may seize whatever properties it deems justifiable with no court that will protect the rights of the people, it is only a matter of time before tyranny rules. Tyre was the name of the Greek city that first established a pure democracy -- from which we get the word 'tyranny'.  -- E Archer, NYC      4
The Creator ordained Ideal is that of the Sovereign Individual. All other renderings of Reality are monuments to the Fall. Which Understanding inhered in the Founders.  -- Patrick Henry, Red Hill      2
So are the ways of everyone that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof." Proverbs 1:19. It is easily seen the arm of tyranny upon the rightful sovereign individual. Being under siege the tender mercies of tyrants, made likened unto compassion corrupted !  -- Ronw13, Oregon      1
-- Mary - MI

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