The Power To Do Good

What is the common thread between liberals and conservatives today? They are believers in the power of the state to do good. Or in the short hand form statists. Or in the common vernacular fascists.

All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state. Benito Mussolini

I have always been an enemy of the State. Not totally. But nearly so. In accord with our founding father:

Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Geo. Washington

Our founders thought the state should be on a very short leash. Chained to the deck with a VERY short chain. Most of what passes for politics today follows from: “there is no limit to the good that can be done by putting a gun to a man’s head” liberals and conservatives alike. As a friend of mine likes to say: “we are doomed”.
There are only Progressives in politics these days. In the early days of the Progressive movement Economics and Morality were combined. Now a days the movement has bifurcated. We have Liberal Progressives who want the state to “fix” economics and Conservative Progressives who want the state to “fix” morality.
In any case the Progressives are now in control of America left and right. Which is why you see Government “Conservatives” working with the left some times on economics and Government “Liberals” sometimes working with the right on morals. It is the common interest in the power of the state keeps them joined at the hip.
I like the Tea Parties (so far) in that they seem to be more libertarian oriented. And there seems to be an interest growing in libertarian politicians such as Rand Paul.
What encourages me in my war against the statists is that a little over half the country sees the Tea Party in a favorable light.
Cross Posted at Power and Control