Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Ludwig von Mises on the Iraq War

Some 1927 words of wisdom from Ludwig von Mises seem relevant to our war in Iraq today.

"Only a group that can count on the consent of the governed can establish a lasting regime. Whoever wants to see the world governed according to his own ideas must strive for dominion over men's minds. It is impossible, in the long run, to subject men against their will to a regime that they reject. Whoever tries to do so by force will ultimately come to grief, and the struggles provoked by his attempt will do more harm than the worst government based on the consent of the governed could ever do. Men cannot be made happy against their will."

Liberalism, Critique of the Doctrine of Force

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