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Culture War Roundup for the week of May 4, 2026

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Why is it surprising that people who believe they are better and smarter than the market and deserve to control the economy also tend to believe they should command power elsewhere? Socialism without authoritarianism is in theory possible, but the same thought pattern leads to both.

The same way that would be authoritarians inevitably go down the path of socialism and try to boss around the economy. If you think you're smarter and should be in control of everything, why shouldn't that include telling big businesses what they can and can't do, implementing price controls, stealing from them with illegal taxations, and using government to seize stake in private corporations? Socialism and big government is a means to boss around people who would otherwise tell you to fuck off. It should say something that even the right wing dictators (and wannabe dictators) seem to never end up being economically libertarian.

The economy is one of the biggest ways that people make personal choices in their life. What do you trade for, who do you trade it with, what sort of job do you work, how long do you work it, how much can you trade? What sorts of things can you use in your day to day life and who can provide it? It's control over the food you eat and the homes you can live in. You can not have power if you do not exert control over the economy.