We should beware the over-mighty state. A state that gathers all powers to itself drains initiative away from where it does most good ‒ at the local level, at the level of the small group, the family, the individual. And the danger does not end when formal democracy ‒ consisting of elections every few years, free, fair, and transparently honest ‒ exists. An over-mighty state can evolve through a series of free and fair elections, even involving changes in Government, by preserving the apparatus of centralised authority untouched for whoever inherits it to use. Beware that insidious danger. The impersonal state, impervious to the passing whims and fancies of men and women playing politics, constantly threatens to arrogate to itself as much power as it can get.
The only way to protect the people on a continuing basis is to strengthen, and vigilantly keep strong, institutions in the land that are autonomous and can stand up to state power without flinching. Such institutions are the judiciary, a permanent and independent civil service, the media, trade unions, the churches, strong and articulate professional bodies, universities, the private business community. To the extent that any of these find themselves in the service of the state, or under its thumb, they should take steps to get out fast and establish an integrity and a raison d’ȇtre of their own. In that way they serve the people and the nation, ultimately you and me, best.
Often, especially when we are young, we believe that it must be possible for some great saviour to take control of events, which seem in such disorder so much of the time, in order to impose a great reformation on the land which will free everyone from all mischief and all wrong. This is an illusion. It is an
