About three or four years ago, I went through a stage in which I almost came to believe that central planning - a chief feature of statism - could be used to solve the world's problems. Fortunately, I was not entrusted with any real power during that period, and I've now retreated significantly from that position.
While statism may be found among any group, I believe that in this day and age it's particularly associated with the academically inclined. Why do I say that? Because they have been trained to believe that they have special knowledge that makes them particularly valuable. From which it is only a short step to the conclusion that they, or others like them, are uniquely qualified to order the affairs of society.
It may very well be true that a committee of knowledgeable experts would be slightly better at governing a nation than some other solutions. But giving anyone unlimited power over the citizenry - or anything close to unlimited - is very dangerous indeed. I am alarmed, for example, at any proposal to limit population growth. Not because I believe that this planet can support an unlimited number of people; but because I do not believe such a policy could be reasonably and justly applied, and because I think it would involve a good deal of coercion. The greatest risk would be in deciding who would be permitted to reproduce and who would not.
In short, because one group might be better than another when entrusted with great power, does not show that either would be anywhere close to good.
Thus, in the words of C. S. Lewis:
Mankind is so fallen that no man can be trusted with unchecked power over his fellows...I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters.
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