Authoritarian government dooms society

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for December 17, 2025)

Many people have recently discovered that government is authoritarian. What a shock! Most only complain about it when it affects something they personally care about. When it crushes something they dislike, they either ignore it or call for even more authoritarianism.

The dictionary says "authoritarian" means demanding blind obedience to authority instead of respecting individual freedom, considering individual freedom subordinate to the power of the state, or exercising complete or almost complete control over the will of others. It’s a perfect description of ordinary, everyday government.

Here, “authority” doesn’t mean expertise or competence; it's referring to political power. Power which only exists as long as people imagine it does. Using the same word for both real expertise and political domination muddies thinking. Sometimes the confusion is deliberate. It’s straight out of Orwell.

Both the political Right and Left are authoritarian.

When concerned parents speak out at a government school-board meeting, and government labels them “domestic threats,” roughly half the country cries “authoritarianism!” while the other half cheers.

When government blows up a drug boat, the sides instantly reverse; now the other half is outraged, and this half applauds. Both actions are authoritarian. Both are wrong.

People act as though the only options are authoritarianism or decadence. This completely ignores the healthy balance between these extremes: responsibility. Meaning, both decadence and authoritarianism are equally irresponsible.

Trying to fix a problem with government is guaranteed to fail. You don't fix a problem by creating a bigger one. Pretending otherwise is just as irresponsible as doing nothing at all.

Crime will never be solved by allowing government to react with additional authoritarian rights violations. Regardless of who commits the crimes, government is the wrong tool. Everything government does creates new victims and new crimes.

The only chance at a real, lasting solution that respects all life, liberty, and property is to get government out of the way. How likely is government to go along? Not likely at all. Government exists to grab power and use it. This power is authoritarianism, even when you happen to like the outcome. Those who respect liberty will never respect those who work against it. If you believe this won't matter, you don't know history.

In the short run, authoritarianism works great for the authoritarians. In the long run, it always backfires. Authoritarians are gambling that this time will be different, but if not, society is doomed.

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Understanding the other side

I think I am able to see both (or more) sides of any topic. I could make a good, convincing argument for either side. Including the side I think is wrong.

I don't normally do it in public because I don't want to be taken out of context and have people think I'm arguing for something I'm not. Yes, it happens anyway, but there's no reason to make it easier.

I don't actually enjoy being able to see all sides so easily. It's uncomfortable and inconvenient.

Just because I can see all sides doesn't mean I haven't decided one side is more correct than the others- obviously, in the majority of cases, I have.

This doesn't stop me from considering any new arguments that are presented- it's just that new arguments I haven't already considered, mulled, pondered, (dozens of times) and then rejected because they didn't hold up, are nearly non-existent.

But, internally, I can sympathize with those on the opposite side from me because I understand where they are coming from. 

I can completely understand why the anti-immigrant people feel the way they do, while recognizing how and why they are wrong.

The same goes for the anti-gun people.

I don't avoid talking to them. That doesn't mean they'll listen to anything I say, because they are apparently incapable of seeing, much less considering, the opposite side. 

This is disappointing to me. I feel as though I made an effort they are unwilling to make- to understand the other side. Plus, there's truth in the saying "give them an inch, and they'll take a mile".

I expect more of them, even if it's an unreasonable expectation. That's why, if I engage with them at all, I come down harder than I might otherwise.

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