Aggression is simply another name for government. Aggression, invasion, government, are interconvertible terms. The essence of government is control, or the attempt to control. He who attempts to control another is a governor, an aggressor, an invader; and the nature of such invasion is not changed, whether it is made by one man upon another man, after the manner of the ordinary criminal, or by one man upon all other men, after the manner of an absolute monarch, or by all other men upon one man, after the manner of a modern democracy.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Tucker equates aggression with government, arguing all government attempts to control others.
- In plain terms
- Government is just another word for aggression or invasion.
- What can you take from it?
- Government is inherently an act of control or aggression.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is all government aggression?
- Can control ever be voluntary?
Another view
The equation of government with crime is controversial.
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