--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Coercion is as much the tool of the…" description: "\"Coercion is as much the tool of the welfare state as it is of communism. The programs and edicts of both are backed by the police force. All of us know..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ade/leonard-read-14543_being-true_coercion-is-as-much-the-tool-of-the-welf_2998235.png" --- # Coercion is as much the tool of the welfare state as it is… ![“Coercion is as much the tool of the welfare state as it is of communism. The programs and edicts of both are backed by the police force. All of us know this to be true under communism, but it is equally true under our own brand of welfare statism.” quote by Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ade/leonard-read-14543_being-true_coercion-is-as-much-the-tool-of-the-welf_2998235.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ade/leonard-read-14543_being-true_coercion-is-as-much-the-tool-of-the-welf_2998235.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ade/leonard-read-14543_being-true_coercion-is-as-much-the-tool-of-the-welf_2998235.png) > “Coercion is as much the tool of the welfare state as it is of communism. The programs and edicts of both are backed by the police force. All of us know this to be true under communism, but it is equally true under our own brand of welfare statism.” [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that both welfare states and communist regimes rely on coercive power, enforced by police, to implement their policies. **In simple terms:** Both systems use force to enforce policies. Key Takeaway Recognize and question state-imposed coercion. Themes politics state power civil liberties economics authority Mood critical analytical skeptical Type political philosophical critical When to use this quote - public welfare programs - law enforcement - social services - taxation - regulation Key Concepts coercion state control political theory public policy Questions to Reflect On - How does coercion manifest in modern welfare policies? - Can democratic mechanisms reduce state-imposed force? A Different Perspective The quote may overlook voluntary social contracts and democratic oversight that can limit coercion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coercion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coercion/) [Communism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communism/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Police force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police-force/) [Tools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tools/) [Welfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare/) [Welfare state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welfare-state/) ## Related quotes > [American critics of welfare statism are often surprised to learn that countries like West Germany, with a much more comprehensive welfare state and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kuttner/american-critics-of-welfare-statism-are-often-surprised-to-learn-that/) [Robert Kuttner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kuttner/) > [ The solution to this problem \[welfare-statism\] must take a positive form: the restoration of a faith in what free men can accomplish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-solution-to-this-problem-welfare-statism-must-take-a-positive/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Libertarianism and communism are equally crazy in opposite ways. 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Simultaneously creating unnatural specializations, it must, granted statism's premise, resort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-welfare-state-destroys-the-market-mechanisms-lessens-free-choice/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [ It \[the free market\] is an organizational way of doing things, featuring openness, which enables millions of people to cooperate and compete without demanding… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/it-the-free-market-is-an-organizational-way-of-doing-things-featuring/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [You build the bonds through the community and police force, build bonds of understanding, and then when people feel comfortable in their communities, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/you-build-the-bonds-through-the-community-and-police-force-build/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) ## More by Leonard Read > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [There is no moral distinction between petty thievery and 'from each according to ability, to each according to need.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/there-is-no-moral-distinction-between-petty-thievery-and-from-each/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Whenever government assumed responsibility for the security, welfare, and prosperity of citizens, the costs of government rise beyond the point where it is politically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/whenever-government-assumed-responsibility-for-the-security-welfare/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [ The solution to this problem \[welfare-statism\] must take a positive form: the restoration of a faith in what free men can accomplish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-solution-to-this-problem-welfare-statism-must-take-a-positive/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [The libertarian can have no truck with 'left' or 'right' because he regrets any form of authoritarianism - the use of police force to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/the-libertarian-can-have-no-truck-with-left-or-right-because-he/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Is it not obvious that the more complex an economy, the more certainly will governmental control of productive effort exert a retarding influence?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/is-it-not-obvious-that-the-more-complex-an-economy-the-more-certainly/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [In market terms, one is entitled to what others will offer in willing exchange. 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