Will the COVID Pandemic Cause a Big Government 'Ratchet Effect'?

American Thinker ^ | 10 Jan, 2022 | Nicholas J. Kaster

[MtnClimber]

The COVID pandemic appears to supply yet another pretext for the move towards bigger and more authoritarian government.

In his classic book, Crisis and Leviathan, economic historian Robert Higgs introduced a key concept that he called “the ratchet effect.” Higgs noted that the power of government grows during times of crisis, such as war or national depression, but that once the crisis passes, the newly acquired power of the State doesn't recede back to its original level.

Higgs explained:

“After the ideological transformation that took place during the Progressive Era, each genuine crisis has been the occasion for another ratchet toward Bigger Government. The Progressive ideological imperative that government must ‘do something,’ must take responsibility for resolving any perceived crisis, insures new actions. …Once undertaken, governmental programs are hard to terminate. Interests become vested, bureaucracies entrenched, constituencies solidified.”

The COVID pandemic appears to supply yet another pretext for the move towards bigger and more authoritarian government. The toll on personal and economic liberty has been great and the deleterious effects may linger far longer than the virus.

Very early in the pandemic, economist Brian Wesbury expressed concern about the ratchet effect on the economy. While he recognized that temporary government relief was necessary, given the mandated lockdowns, he worried that the increased expenditures would not be unwound once the crisis passed.

[MtnClimber]

1. The pandemic is to force you to get the vaccine

2. The vaccine is to force you to get the vaccine passport

3. The vaccine passport is to push you into the social credit system

4. The social credit system is to force you into obeying the government

Emerald Robinson, 2021

[MtnClimber]

Isn't schadenfreude great!

[Silentgypsy]

That explains the war drums with Russia and China. They need to unite the nation before the midterms. Major concern: sending our young people out to be sacrificed during their power grab.

[rlmorel]

In my opinion, that is not even in question. If there is one single thing about government that is indisputably true, is that once something becomes a part of government, it is part of the government FOREVER.

The fact that you can count on less than one hand the number of modern government programs that have been eliminated after being established is proof of the poison of surrendering rights, because once that happens, it is a one way ratchet and you never get them back.

Those of us who understand this are concerned for good reason.

[super7man]

Interests become vested, bureaucracies entrenched, constituencies solidified.”

That is exactly why the Build Back Better monstrosity is moving forward by Democrats. It will create hundreds of new constituencies that can be counted on by Democrats to vote in a way that keeps the milk flowing forever.