If the economy privately does not demand enough interest or rally enough resource for a given project or program, then why should government then act contrary to such lack of demand and/or investment?

 

"Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confuses the distinction between government and society. As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all. We disapprove of state education. Then the socialists say that we are opposed to any education. We object to a state religion. Then the socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object to a state-enforced equality. Then they say that we are against equality. And so on, and so on. It is as if the socialists were to accuse us of not wanting persons to eat because we do not want the state to raise grain."

Claude-Frédéric Bastiat (1801-1850)
The Law (La Loi, 1850)

Among the many concepts and thoughts regarding free trade, free market, free economy, this (quote) perhaps the most difficult to understand, else the most difficult to embrace. For most if not nearly all have their sacred cows, that is, their pet projects or programs they deem absolutely necessary for government involvement, regulation, taxation, management, even for government total control (monopoly) thereof.

Whether it is healthcare, welfare, Social Security, education, transportation, water projects, libraries, and more, enough of the population will cry "Foul!" if to counter and suggest privatization, adding that the matter in question will be done poorly, or left undone, if not for government.

I would recommend asking oneself the following. If the economy privately does not demand enough interest or rally enough resource for a given project or program, then why should government then act contrary to such lack of demand and/or investment? If the economy privately cannot afford a given project or program, then what enables government to afford since revenue (taxation) comes first from the people, and second, from printing fiat that imposes inflation later upon the people?

Per such considerations, perhaps the project or program should not be done at all, in the same way a company will cease to offer a product or service that the consumers no longer demand. And would it be not be immoral if the same company hired gunmen to force consumers to buy the unwanted product or service? So it is with government.

To note, I highly recommend reading the book mentioned above per quote by the early 19th century French economist Claude-Frédéric Bastiat. The link below is a free online copy, thus the opening paragraph...

"The law perverted! The law — and, in its wake, all the collective forces of the nation — the law, I say, not only diverted from its proper direction, but made to pursue one entirely contrary! The law become the tool of every kind of avarice, instead of being its check! The law guilty of that very iniquity which it was its mission to punish! Truly, this is a serious fact, if it exists, and one to which I feel bound to call the attention of my fellow citizens."

Free online copy provided by Mises Institute...
https://mises.org/online-book/law/law-stirling-translation-1874

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