One of the most brilliant observations made during the Classical period in Ancient Greece was by the famed philosopher Plato, who coined the idea that a people can be governed in one of two ways: by persuasion or by force. From history, we know that when people are ruled by force the outcome is predictable. Just take a look at Stalin’s Russia, Mao’s China, Pol Pot’s Cambodia, or Hitler’s Germany.
It shouldn’t even be a question of which style of rule leads to human flourishing and which one doesn’t, and our Founding Fathers recognized this. After winning the Revolutionary War, they made a monumental decision to give up whatever power they had wrestled from the British, and return it to ‘we the people.’ We would be a nation where all citizens would be represented, and there would be robust, but civil debate to determine how the future of the United States should look.
For the past four years, we’ve heard quite a lot from at least one side of the political aisle that it is important to “preserve our democracy” because it is “under assault.” Aside from the fact that we are not a democracy (we’re a constitutional republic) it’s important to question what exactly is meant by this, and unfortunately there are only too many terrifying examples of what they actually mean.
“Preserve democracy,” or your name will be put on an accountability list.
“Preserve democracy,” or we will abuse the electoral process.
“Preserve democracy,” or we will ruin the reputation of a fully qualified nominee for the Supreme Court, not to mention pack the court they serve.
“Preserve democracy,” or we will dismantle the rules in the Senate that guard against the tyranny of the minority.
“Preserve democracy,” or we will label you a racist, a bigot, or a grandma killer.
There is a common theme here.
If the left doesn’t get what they want, they will force it on people either by manipulation, propaganda, or total and complete abuse of power. As they move progressively further to the left, there is inevitably less and less with which to actually persuade. As is always the case with the left, once they have corrupted their original good intentions with unworkable policies and power grabs, they resort to ruling by force the moment you dissent.
The contrast between progressives’ socialist and communist tactics vs. conservatives’ art of persuasion is striking. Conservatism, by its inherent nature, enforces freedom of thought, critical thinking skills, and objective truth. Turning Point USA is an entire movement of young conservatives which is committed to winning the culture war so that young people have eyes to see and ears to hear the ideas of free markets, limited government, and fiscal responsibility with an open mind, and ultimately equip them to educate others on why these concepts actually work.
But with big government, there is no room for persuasion. Big government holds the power and what it says ultimately goes. But when you put the power in the people’s hands and allow the art of persuasion and conversation to run its course, we the people have an opportunity to make informed decisions. Ultimately we will all end up with a country of happier, more fulfilled and empowered people who possess the ability to govern ourselves in freedom, not coercion.
Socialism is insidious. It will always attempt to rise from the asheap of historically awful ideas because it offers a false, but timeless utopian promise. But it always leads to misery and poverty.
Self governance offers a tougher sell but a more honest bargain. It offers hard work, but it promises freedom. And freedom is always worth fighting for.
