From the colonial Puritans to today’s progressive paternalists, America has always had authoritarian elements who favor using coercion against personal behavior they regard as offensive. These sentiments become the basis of policy whenever politicians can exploit them to advance their own interests.
Robert Higgs is Retired Senior Fellow in Political Economy, Founding Editor and former Editor at Large of The Independent Review.
American HistoryCulture and SocietyEconomic History and DevelopmentEconomyGovernment and PoliticsGovernment PowerLaw and LibertyPhilosophy and Religion
Other Independent Review articles by Robert Higgs
Fall 2019 Pressure-Release Valves in Participatory Fascism
Winter 2018/19 Two Worlds: Politics and Everything Else
Fall 2018 Against the Whole Concept and Construction of the Balance of International Payments
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