Quote:
Originally Posted by Pete F.
Right-wingers are obsessed with FA Hayek's 1944 *theory* that welfare states inevitably expand to become totalitarian. Is there *any* case in which this actually happened since 1944? Arguably, Pinochet's Chile, but this was an authoritarian effort to stop socialism.
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China is a welfare state. Centralization of power may not inevitably become totalitarian. It already is at least authoritarian. Which is well on its way to becoming totalitarian, given human nature and the lust for power. A lust that is inherent in both despots and do-gooders.
There are variations of the so-called "welfare state." In my opinion, it is far better to have a state in which there are multiple centers of power that are more directly responsible to the will of their people, and in which the people can easily remove their elected leaders when they trespass what our constitutional system calls inalienable rights. If the people prefer the state's power over and determination of their welfare, then they have an optimistic view of the continued welfare and rights granted by authoritarians. I prefer to have the option to live in a state that protects inalienable rights than in one that grants what rights we have.