The Only Good State is a Dead State

An excerpt from The Utopian Myth of the Good State:

Our Constitution, which was intended to limit government power and abuse, has failed. The Founders warned that a free society depends on a virtuous and moral people. The current crisis reflects that their concerns were justified. Most politicians and pundits are aware of the problems we face but spend all their time in trying to reform government. The sad part is that the suggested reforms almost always lead to less freedom and the importance of a virtuous and moral people is either ignored, or not understood. The new reforms serve only to further undermine liberty. The compounding effect has given us this steady erosion of liberty and the massive expansion of debt. 

The real question is: if it is liberty we seek, should most of the emphasis be placed on government reform or trying to understand what "a virtuous and moral people" means and how to promote it. The Constitution has not prevented the people from demanding handouts for both rich and poor in their efforts to reform the government, while ignoring the principles of a free society. All branches of our government today are controlled by individuals who use their power to undermine liberty and enhance the welfare/warfare state—and frequently their own wealth and power. [...]

More: http://mises.org/daily/6331/The-Utopian-Myth-of-the-Good-State?noredirect=1#noredirect

"The Constitution shall never be construed … to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms." – Samuel Adams

Yet so often, we hear emotional cries for the government to save the people, despite the state being the greatest threat in society to liberty, prosperity, and security. As I often argue, the state does not exist. All actions are individual ones by individuals, even when acting in unison with a collective. Point to what you can think the state is and I will show you where you have made error in observation. The White House is merely a building, the Constitution a document. We give them meaning through our consent. And when the state grows corrupt and becomes unworthy of saving, we can just as maternity withdraw our consent and shift toward voluntary society.