Beware of the government 127
Almost everyone is superstitious to some degree, even the most rational among us.
John Stossel, that consistently rational, commonsensical, free-marketeer and libertarian, who also has the virtue of expressing his ideas clearly, writes:
We human beings sure are gullible. Polls report that 27 percent of Americans believe in ghosts, and 25 percent in astrology. Others believe mediums, fortunetellers, faith healers and assorted magical phenomena. …
Whether you believe in God — or psychics, or global warming — that’s your business. …
Well, a belief in psychics will probably only harm the believer; but believers in God or global warming are dangerous to us all.
And so is belief in government, as Stossel points out:
Being gullible about government hurts everyone. Government is force. When it sells us bunk, we have to pay even if we don’t believe in or want it. If we don’t pay up, men with guns will make sure we do.
It’s good to be skeptical. It’s really good to be skeptical about government.