"The Man Versus the State" Spencer

“The Man Versus the State” by Spencer

Thesis: Concerned about the shift of liberals to state intervention, Spencer stressed the necessity of traditional laissez-faire policies in order to avoid socialism and slavery by the government.

• The policy of those who support state intervention takes for granted the fact that evils can be removed from society
• That all “evils” should be dealt with by the state
• The more govt intervenes, the more they will demand for even more intervention
• Every extension of this policy calls for “growth of officialism” and increase of powers of officials
• The growing power of administrative govt brings the decreasing power of society to resist them and control their own life
• Coming slavery? à because this impending socialism involves slavery
• The changes will lead to state-ownership of land and communication and state-usurpation of industries (most of the private forums)
• Through govt-intervention, people’s liberty will be surrendered as “material welfares were cared for”
• Each person would be a slave to the community as a whole
• Liberalism should function in limiting govt power and Parliament powers