The Dictator Fallacy
The Dictator Fallacy
Do you . . .
* believe in our Constitution with its different branches and its separation of powers?
* support the idea that The State should be managed by elected representatives?
* oppose monarchies, dictatorships, and other authoritarian forms of The State?
I bet you'd answer "Yes" to all of these questions.
Despite answering yes, nearly everyone pretends, at some point, that they can design laws and programs that manage human behavior, leading to an ideal social result.
* Maybe even you believe you know the best way to solve a particular societal problem with a better organizational solution.
* Perhaps you admire and support a particular candidate who claims he has just the right incentive, program, or regulation that will do the trick.
Well, if you ever catch yourself (or another person), making such a pronouncement, then you can KNOW that either you (or they) are wrong. You see . . .
When you have "a government of the people, by the people, and for the people," YOUR "grand design" won't work. Why?
Unfortunately, other people will also be involved. This is, after all, a representative government with separation of powers. Your scheme will be touched and affected by lobbyists, legislators, bureaucrats, and judges. Then it will be imposed on a group of people, many of whom will NOT cheerfully cooperate because they do NOT appreciate your brilliance.
By failing to appreciate these events, you have fallen victim to the Dictator Fallacy.
Read the rest of the article here. Especially if you habitually fall prey to the lunatic's belief that the answer to failed regulation is simply MORE regulation!
Of course, if you're another one of *those* people who continue to believe that your politicians are brilliant geniuses, while mine are corrupt morons, as if there's really a difference in practice, there's probably little help for you.
Posted by khiggins at January 14, 2011 05:38 AM