If “we are the government,” then anything a government…
““If “we are the government,” then anything a government does to an individual is not only just and untyrannical but also “voluntary” on the part of the individual concerned. If the government conscripts a man, or throws him into jail for dissident opinion, then he is “doing it to himself” and, therefore, nothing untoward has occurred.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The argument claims that if individuals are the government, any governmental action is self‑inflicted and thus justified, ignoring coercion.
In simple terms: If we are the government, any state action is our own and therefore voluntary.
Key Takeaway
Question the legitimacy of state coercion.
Themes
political philosophy
individual liberty
state authority
coercion
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- civil disobedience
- legal reform
Key Concepts
anarcho‑capitalism
libertarianism
self‑ownership
Questions to Reflect On
- Is any state action truly voluntary?
- How to protect rights against coercive policies?
A Different Perspective
Overlooks power imbalances and non‑voluntary consent.