Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Lawrence W Reed
“Armed with weapons and a monopoly on the use of legal force, one man (or woman) can do a world of harm. Add ego, arrogance, and dictatorship to the mix, and the harm can spread far and wide, even across generations. One tyrant’s fancies become curses upon society, the effects of which may linger long after the tyrant is gone. This is an iron law of the human experience. The ancient Chinese emperor Wang Mang provides a prime example. If you’re curious what an absolute dictatorship looks like — one of the very worst in all history — this is a story you’ll want to read.” (06/26/25)