The American left used to pride itself on “speaking truth to power.” Sometimes it actually did so. Now that the left is firmly in control of the apparatus of government, its love of power has been revealed. Perhaps not one of its mouthpieces more consistently takes the line that authoritarianism (in the right hands, of course) is good than Paul Krugman.
In the letter to the editor of the New York Times below, responding to Krugman’s latest column, Professor Don Boudreaux speaks the truth ABOUT power:
To the Editor:
Reasonable people can debate whether or not higher taxes are a sound means of
funding government spending, but Paul Krugman isn’t reasonable (“Now That’s
Rich,” August 23). Instead, he slings mud and insinuates that the proper
relationship between Americans and their government is exactly the opposite of
what the founders expressly took this relationship to be.
For government not to raise taxes on high-income earners is NOT, contrary to Mr.
Krugman’s assertion, for government “to cut checks averaging $3 million each to
the richest 120,000 people in the country.” No checks will be cut and no money
will be taken from anyone.
All income is earned by individuals. It originates as THEIR property and not
that of any government or of some collective ‘us.’ Even if this money is deemed
necessary to keep Uncle Sam solvent, remember that this government was created
to protect individual rights that each of us receive from our “Creator” – that
is, rights existing independently of any state. In contrast, according to Mr.
Krugman’s mystical political dogma, all property (and, hence, each right)
originates in government. Government is elevated to the status of Creator,
while each individual is thereby reduced to the status of a serf living at the
favor and pleasure of government. That belief, if pursued consistently, leads
to the greatest tyranny.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Professor of Economics
George Mason University
