Totalitarianism of today

We are headed for a different kind of totalitarianism than that of Stalin or Hitler or Mao, but a total state really is what a great many people have in mind for us all. They seek a sort of ’smiley face fascism’ in which all interactions are regulated in the name of preventing sexism, promoting health, and defending the environment. The excuses will not invoke the Glory of the Nation or the Proletariat or the Volk or the King or the Flag or any of those old fashioned tools for tyrants, but rather it will be “for our own good”, “for the Planet”, “for the whales”, “for the children”, “for the disabled” or “for equality”.

But if they get their way it will be quite, quite totalitarian.

From samizdata. Preferences change and so do the excuses applied when people attempt to legitimize the continuous growth of government. When confronting the “new” totalitarian threat, those who love liberty and dislike the development would be wise to hold on to the fact that even though totalitarianism of today (and, particularly, tomorrow) might look different to us than that of a hundred years ago, it really is just old wine in new bottles. Whatever good intentions might motivate the people demanding bigger government, we should continue to refuse them to take away our liberty.

A few good wines get better with age. Most wines don’t. Frankly, I prefer a good cup of coffee.