The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

654 THE FREEMAN Novemberexample cannot be found wheredomineering in practice - manlording it over man - has resultedin success. 2 The record is failure,without exception. It has to be. Acarbon copy is never as good asthe imperfect original.Markedly on the increase arethe complaints I hear from fathersand mothers about the waywardnessof their children. In some instances,drugs. But most of themgo like this: "She is brilliant, astraight A student in college, butshe has bought the whole socialisticdoctrine. She won't do as I say.How do I solve this problem?" Ihave yet to hear one of these doas-I-sayparents confess, "Thefault is mine." In far too manyof these relationships an unsuspecteddomineering attitude hasbeen substituted for parental cooperationand guidance.Take two cases of domineeringthat have "teeth": governmenteducation and the governmentpostal service.Government education has threeforms of domineering: compulsoryattendance, government dictationof the curricula, and the forciblecollection of the wherewithal to2 Success is composed of gains, notlosses. Sputniks, moon ventures, theGateway Arch, and the like-ambitions ofa few - are made possible by enormouslosses on the part of millions of people.With justice or fairness as the premise,these are failures.pay the bills. That education inAmerica is in a mess goes withoutsaying. It is generally conceded,even by many educators. Show meone person who says, "The faultis mine." Yet, it is the fault ofeveryone who has had an.y part inendorsing or supporting or practicingany form of domineering!3The government postal servicenever, even remotely, matchedwhat a free market operationwould have accomplished. And itis getting worse day by day. Canyou name one person during thepast century who confessed thefault is his? No one makes suchan admission because he does notrecognize the domineering trait asthe root of the failure.The railroads have been subjectedto domineering with "teeth" fordecades. They are failing. Not aperson takes the blame; it is nowand always has been, "You rascal,you!" There is no end to the illustrationsthat could be given.When Growth CeasesAs already stated, the domineeringhabit has its inception in theclosest relationships. Correct ithere and it will cease to be a men-3 This is not "collective guilt" as somewould have it but individual error piledhigh. Al1d, critics to the contrary, each ofus is to some extent shaped by the environmentin which we find ourselves. Inanother kind of world, you and I wouldbe in another kind of endeavor.