With government controlling more and more of our
economy, the fact that crooks have to go where the money is causes more and
more of them to turn to government employment. However, there is probably an
even stronger reason for individuals to become politicians. That is the power which accompanies political office. Many idealists think they know better
than the ordinary person what is good for that person. They consider themselves
a cut above the ordinary individual who just isn’t smart enough to know what he
or she should do. Idealists seek government power to impose their ideas upon
the rest of us. They may be personally honest insofar as not thinking of lining
their own pockets with money but have little compunction about bolstering their
egos with government power. This attitude explains the environmentalists, the
do-gooders, and others whose ego causes them to seek government power to impose
their ideas upon those of us who just want to make our way in a free market in
open competition with everyone else. They don’t believe in a free market or
voluntary actions. They do believe in controlling others by means of government
power. - Harry Hoiles, The Santa Ana
Register [June 2, 1979]