"Political power is exercised by means of a negative, by the threat of punishment... " - Ayn Rand

Posted by GaltsGulch 9 years, 6 months ago to The Gulch: General
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"Economic power is exercised by means of a positive, by offering men a reward, an incentive, a payment, a value; political power is exercised by means of a negative, by the threat of punishment, injury, imprisonment, destruction. The businessman's tool is values; the bureaucrat's tool is fear." - Ayn Rand


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  • Posted by krevello 9 years, 6 months ago
    Bureaucracy is individual will and self-interest grafted into the state's monopoly on force. In free markets at least, consumers can use their purchasing power as a dissenting vote. Political power has no such check.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years, 6 months ago
    The real political power, originally, was in the hands of the citizens. The punishment was banishment from politics. The citizens tool had value. Not it does not and the economy is on a fear standard. Some investments invariably turn out wrong. No matter how much the investment.
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