Votto
Diamond Member
- Oct 31, 2012
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Looking at today's current events, who can see similarities in Friedrich Hayek's "Road to Serfdom"?
Here are the 18 steps to slavery he lists in the book.
1. War forces "national planning".
To permit total mobilization of your country's economy, you gladly surrender many freedoms. You know regimentation was forced by your country's enemies.
2. Many want "planning" to stay.
Arguments for a "peace production board" are heard before the war ends. Wartime "planners" who want to stay in power, encourage the idea.
3. The "planners" promise utopias.
A rosy plan for farmers goes well in rural areas, a plan for individual workers is popular in cities -- and so on. Many new planners are elected to office.
4. But they can't agree on ONE utopia.
With peace, a new legislative meets; but "win the war" unity is gone. The "planners" nearly come to blows. Each has his own pet plan, won't budge.
5. And citizens can't agree either.
When the planners finally patch up a temporary plan months later, citizens in turn disagree. What the farmers like, the factory worker does not etc.
6. "Planners" hate to force agreement.
Most national "planners" are well meaning idealists, balk at any use of force. They hope for some miracle of public agreement as to their patch work plan.
7. They try to sell the "plan" to all.
In an unsuccessful effort to educate people to uniform views, "planners" establish a giant propaganda machine -- which a coming dictator will find handy.
8. The gullible do find agreement.
Meanwhile, growing national confusion leads to protest meetings. The least educated -- thrilled and convinced by fiery oratory, form a party.
9. Confidence in "planners" fades.
The more that the "planners" improvise, the greater the disturbance to normal business. Everybody suffers. People now feel -- rightly -- that "planners" can't get things done.
10. The strong man is given power.
In desperation, "planners" authorize the new party leader to hammer out a plan and force it's obedience. Later, they will dispense with him -- or so they think.
11. The party takes over the country.
By now, confusion is so great that obedience to the new leader must be obtained at all costs. Maybe you join the party yourself to aid national unity.
12. A negative aim welds party unity.
Early steps of all dictators is to inflame the majority in common cause against some scapegoat minority. In Germany, the negative aim was Anti-Semitism.
13. No one opposes the leader's plan.
It would be suicide; new secret police are ruthless. Ability to force obedience always becomes #1 virtue in the planned state. Now all freedom is gone.
14. Your profession is planned.
The wider job choice promised by now defunct "planners" turns out to be a tragic farce. "Planners" never have delivered, never will be able to.
15. Your wages are planned.
Divisions of the wage scale must be arbitrary and rigid. Running a planned state from central headquarters is clumsy, unfair, and inefficient.
16. Your thinking is planned.
In the dictatorship, unintentionally created by the "planners", there is no room for difference of opinion. Posters, radio, press -- all tell you the same lies!
17. Your recreation is planned.
It is no coincidence that sports and amusement have been carefully planned in all, regimented nations. Once started, planners can't stop.
18. Your disciplining is planned.
If you are fired from your job, it's apt to be by a firing squad. What used to be an error has now become a crime against the state. Thus ends the road to serfdom!
Here are the 18 steps to slavery he lists in the book.
1. War forces "national planning".
To permit total mobilization of your country's economy, you gladly surrender many freedoms. You know regimentation was forced by your country's enemies.
2. Many want "planning" to stay.
Arguments for a "peace production board" are heard before the war ends. Wartime "planners" who want to stay in power, encourage the idea.
3. The "planners" promise utopias.
A rosy plan for farmers goes well in rural areas, a plan for individual workers is popular in cities -- and so on. Many new planners are elected to office.
4. But they can't agree on ONE utopia.
With peace, a new legislative meets; but "win the war" unity is gone. The "planners" nearly come to blows. Each has his own pet plan, won't budge.
5. And citizens can't agree either.
When the planners finally patch up a temporary plan months later, citizens in turn disagree. What the farmers like, the factory worker does not etc.
6. "Planners" hate to force agreement.
Most national "planners" are well meaning idealists, balk at any use of force. They hope for some miracle of public agreement as to their patch work plan.
7. They try to sell the "plan" to all.
In an unsuccessful effort to educate people to uniform views, "planners" establish a giant propaganda machine -- which a coming dictator will find handy.
8. The gullible do find agreement.
Meanwhile, growing national confusion leads to protest meetings. The least educated -- thrilled and convinced by fiery oratory, form a party.
9. Confidence in "planners" fades.
The more that the "planners" improvise, the greater the disturbance to normal business. Everybody suffers. People now feel -- rightly -- that "planners" can't get things done.
10. The strong man is given power.
In desperation, "planners" authorize the new party leader to hammer out a plan and force it's obedience. Later, they will dispense with him -- or so they think.
11. The party takes over the country.
By now, confusion is so great that obedience to the new leader must be obtained at all costs. Maybe you join the party yourself to aid national unity.
12. A negative aim welds party unity.
Early steps of all dictators is to inflame the majority in common cause against some scapegoat minority. In Germany, the negative aim was Anti-Semitism.
13. No one opposes the leader's plan.
It would be suicide; new secret police are ruthless. Ability to force obedience always becomes #1 virtue in the planned state. Now all freedom is gone.
14. Your profession is planned.
The wider job choice promised by now defunct "planners" turns out to be a tragic farce. "Planners" never have delivered, never will be able to.
15. Your wages are planned.
Divisions of the wage scale must be arbitrary and rigid. Running a planned state from central headquarters is clumsy, unfair, and inefficient.
16. Your thinking is planned.
In the dictatorship, unintentionally created by the "planners", there is no room for difference of opinion. Posters, radio, press -- all tell you the same lies!
17. Your recreation is planned.
It is no coincidence that sports and amusement have been carefully planned in all, regimented nations. Once started, planners can't stop.
18. Your disciplining is planned.
If you are fired from your job, it's apt to be by a firing squad. What used to be an error has now become a crime against the state. Thus ends the road to serfdom!
