"The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments"

Throughout history, the suffering endured by humanity often stems not from natural disasters or individual acts of malice, but rather from the organized and systematic actions of bad governments. Ludwig von Mises points directly to the unparalleled capacity of governments, when corrupted or authoritarian, to wield power with devastating consequences. States possess resources and authority that dwarf the abilities of individual wrongdoers. When malevolent or inept rulers harness such power, the resulting harm can permeate societies on an immense scale, leaving no one untouched.

Wars, genocides, state-sponsored famines, purges, and oppression provide stark examples. Whether it was totalitarian regimes engineering mass starvation, or enacting laws targeting entire groups of people for extermination, the machinery of the state magnifies the reach and efficiency of evil. Individual intentions, no matter how wicked, pale in comparison to what bureaucratic organization, central planning, and unchecked executive authority can accomplish when unleashed for destructive ends. Policies of bad governments can ruin economies, destroy cultures, and suppress generations, demonstrating an enduring pattern: the stockpiles of misery created by misgovernment are deeper and more lasting than any other source.

Moreover, citizens are often powerless in the face of coordinated, legitimized coercion. Dissent under oppressive regimes is met with surveillance, imprisonment, and violence. The normal mechanisms for correcting wrongs—public debate, democratic checks, judicial recourse—are either hobbled or eliminated. With the state serving as both lawmaker and enforcer, victims have scant hope for redress. The consequences radiate through society: fear, loss of agency, pervasive mistrust, and a breakdown of civil life.

Reflecting on this, Mises's assertion underscores the responsibility of all societies to remain vigilant against the abuse of governmental power, and to strive for transparency, accountability, and respect for individual liberty. The lessons of history compel a persistent, collective resistance to any form of governance that threatens to turn the state's formidable means against its own people.