The Sooner Politics front page has a picture that declares “There’s 2 kinds of people: 1. Those who love freedom. 2. Those who love power. The 2nd group preys on the 1st. Never elect the 2nd.”
A straight-forward sentiment that most people would agree on in theory. In practice, we almost always elect the 2nd. Why? Because the second type is very good at hijacking the message of the 1st. Indeed, in many ways they’re better at selling a false hope of more freedom than the true freedom-fighters. These political grifters have an uncanny ability to time their slogans and emotional appeals to the spirit of the moment, and, once swept into office, proceed to enact their authoritarian agenda.
To distinguish the two groups, one must have a fairly solid understanding of the philosophy of liberty, as well as the type of person most likely to defend and advance it, as opposed to an authoritarian opportunist who picks up pro-freedom slogans when it suits his campaign. The hidden authoritarian will be inconsistent: they’ll tell one group of voters one thing, and another group will get another message. They’ll speak generically, and shy away from any specific policy proposals.
The true pro-liberty candidate will leap into specifics immediately, and will be straightforward with policy proposals. The hidden authoritarian will hedge his comments and leave a way out for himself if his comments get him into trouble.
Beware vagueness, which, more than any other quality, augurs the future authoritarian.
