The Tom Woods Show

Ep. 2655 Everything You've Been Taught About the State Is a Lie

Jun 14, 2025
Challenging widely held beliefs, the discussion critiques the notion of the state as a benevolent institution, revealing its coercive nature and inefficiencies. It highlights a double standard in public accountability for government versus private failures, while humorously addressing entrenched issues like the war on drugs. The conversation also navigates historic predatory pricing battles, the complexities of economic crises, and the contrast between ethical wealth practices and state exploitation. Listeners gain insights into fostering meaningful dialogues on important life topics.
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INSIGHT

State vs. Business Reality

  • The state cannot be run like a business because it lacks genuine sales revenues and feedback mechanisms.
  • It makes arbitrary resource allocations without profit and loss signals that guide private firms.
INSIGHT

Washington Monument Syndrome

  • The state operates with its own interests, often preserving budgets through 'Washington Monument Syndrome.'
  • It cuts the most visible services first to provoke public outrage and restore funding.
ANECDOTE

NYC Bureaucracy vs. Archdiocese

  • An economist found 6,000 bureaucrats in NYC public schools' central office compared to 26 in the much smaller Archdiocese.
  • Budget cuts typically target police and fire, leaving entrenched bureaucracies untouched.
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