Power Corrupts

Lord Acton is famous for his proclamation that “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Personally, I prefer “absolutely power corrupts” or just “power corrupts absolutely.” Either captures the reality that power, no matter how small, is always abused and always grows.

Power is an aphrodisiac but one that never satisfies. More is always demanded. That is why boundaries and controls are always defined for delegated power.
Private vs. Public Sector Incentives

It is extremely difficult to monitor and control power. Control requires nearly constant oversight. Violations must be punished to reinforce boundaries.

The private sector does this effectively as profits are the standard by which all departments and personnel are measured. Violations are usually met with demotions, terminations and/or criminal prosecution.

The public sector has no similar standard. It is a bureaucratic model that is controlled by rules and regulations. Bureaucrats have little incentive to innovate or make improvements. Numerous studies suggest that most bureaucrats desire to expand their staffs as it makes them more important.

Change in a bureaucracy is not welcome. Most bureaucrats are content to keep their heads down and stay within the rules. Such behavior is optimal.

When rules are violated, it is easy to overlook them or issue mild rebukes. Rarely is anyone demoted, terminated or prosecuted.

Political motivations also play a role. No Administration wants to call attention to malfeasance on its watch. Ignoring it, unless it is publicly known, is both easy and politically optimal. There is little motivation to criticize or punish fellow bureaucrats.
Standards Deteriorate, Especially in Bureaucracies

Those with power resent oversight. That goes for presidents, elected officials and others in the bureaucracy. When those with power also have a veil of secrecy covering their activities, it is easy to bend rules. Bending rules without criticism merely resets these rules in the eyes of the violators. Over time, standards degrade and the lowered standards become de facto standards.

What once was considered out-of-bounds becomes normal. Over time, this process repeats again and again until behavior becomes so egregious that it becomes impossible to ignore it. That is the point that has been reached in the Deep State scandal involving Donald Trump.

-Monty Pelerin

More Than Yelling "STOP"

A recent dust-up over conservatism’s goals and methods was triggered by public libraries promoting drag queens to kids, which, if this Vice report is accurate, is not very dissimilar to the sexualization of kids in Afghanistan, where young boys are dressed as women to dance and are sexually abused by pedophiles.

The Logic of Freedom vs the Ignorance of Statists

"So you hate cops and government"

No, I don't like bullies and thieves, not just cops and government.

"But you have no problem enjoying the freedoms this country's police, military and government provide."

Another Facebook Encounter

LXX FXXX Hard to "work together" when the final objectives for each [Party] are polar opposites. One is based on what you received is based on production, the other based solely on your need. The former is dependent upon the latter, why kill the goose? Socialist ideas do nothing to create more but only justify why others should receive more of what they don't themselves produce. 

Brian Wilson I dunno about "polar opposites". All governments and - isms exist to dominate, enslave and force "citizens" into some form of pre-determined existence solely to serve the State. However, accomplished economically is academic. In the end, you pay and obey. That ain't Freedom.

THE UNANSWERED MYSTERY OF THE CENTURY

Set aside your prejudices, bias, preconceived notions and media hype. 

Objectively consider:...

His 8 years of living in the White House is over. He’s (mostly ) gone ... but questions remain . .

Socialism and the Epidemic of Ignorance

The Big Debate among all the Brainiacs these days (Real, Faux, Wishful, Self-Anointed): Will Socialism and its Simplistic Sycophants be successful here in the bastion of (crony) Capitalism, America? From FOX to C-SPAN, WaPo to NYT, Conservative pundits pound the podium prognosticating "NEVER"! They slice and dice the Russians (of course), the "Chi-Coms" (Limbaugh varietals), Little Rocket Man, Maduro, Bernie and AOC with an admonition from noted political critics Rocky and Bullwinkle: "That trick never works!".

A Former Life

Once upon a time...in a galaxy long ago and far away...