Statism and its Discontents — Michael Kleen

“The modern State is the reality of the contemporary world. I say it is the reality because there are few things in the world that the State does not touch. There are few remaining frontiers (aside from perhaps the Internet) where liberty can be expressed in its fullest nature. Even the most adamant anarchist is forced to live within the State, to live by its rules, to pay taxes to it, to take aid from it, or face destitution, sanction, or imprisonment. The State is inescapable for all but a fortunate few.” �" Michael Kleen

Modern philosophers have noted that the State is the most important phenomenon of the modern world. There is nothing it does not touch, be it education, travel, communication, entertainment, or even something as basic as the food we eat. Therefore, the battle lines have been drawn, not between Democrats and Republicans or liberals and conservatives, but between advocates of Statism and advocates of liberty. These battles are being fought everywhere - in courts, kitchens, boardrooms, schoolhouses, prisons, doctor's offices, on streets, and even in our own homes. The articles in this collection are drawn from dozens of columns and editorials written by Michael Kleen between 2009 and 2011 on the topics of Statism, liberty, and their conflict. Drawing from his intellectual background in history, education, and philosophy, Michael brings an interdisciplinary approach to this topic that encourages readers to define themselves within this fundamental controversy of the contemporary world.

Essays include Market Alternatives for Food Safety, The Problem of Minority Party Rule, Nietzsche and the State, Education and the Individual, What is Totalitarianism?, and many more.