Though the Western political class constantly criticizes the “authoritarian” nature of certain nations, one should sweep in front of his own door first, to paraphrase Goethe. Indeed, Western nation-states and international institutions have for years been gnawing at the freedom and rights of both individuals and companies.
Firstly, the exorbitant fiscal and inflationary pressures on
Western populations should never be considered “normal” or “acceptable”; they
are severe violations of property rights in and of themselves. These pressures
alone help to explain the economic stagnation
and political decadence of Western societies. Additionally, previously
unthinkable powers have been given to Western police and security forces, many
of them now permanent. Wikileaks
and others
have revealed the programs of mass-surveillance of entire populations that is practiced
by unaccountable Western intelligence agencies.