In the ancient Roman army, the Praetorian Guard—the emperor’s personal bodyguards—enjoyed privileged status. For example, their term of service was 16 years, followed by a pension of 20,000 sesterces, whereas a legionary’s term of service was 20 years and their pension was 12,000 sesterces. Praetorians also received double the pay of legionaries. (Image text)
It is important to understand the concept of “being privileged” correctly. It comes as a big surprise to many that getting rich, being successful, or achieving something does not at all mean the same thing as being privileged.
Being privileged requires shared wealth or resources. A person who picks blueberries and sells them to others who voluntarily buy them, thereby becoming wealthy, is not privileged but successful. A person who builds themselves an Isaac Church-style summer cottage is not privileged but hardworking.
On the other hand, the one who takes from the common fund—first, the one who has been allocated a share in advance; the one who takes the most from the common fund, perhaps for longer than others, perhaps more securely than others; or the one who takes opportunities funded by others, or who pays fewer taxes than others—that person is privileged. Anyone who receives more from the common fund than others—whether money, leisure time paid for by others, or anything else considered valuable—is genuinely privileged. Being rich, successful, or lucky does not mean one is privileged. It is also entirely possible that a member of the middle class is more privileged than a rich person.
It follows from this that the stronger and more multifunctional the state is, the more privileged people there are. A large state often simply means high tax rates (the opposite of which is economic liberalism, which advocates low tax rates), so let’s try a thought experiment: in the view of a supporter of a strong state, to whom should this increased tax revenue actually be given? To developing countries? No. To children’s homes in Eastern Europe? No. To reducing pollution in Asia? No. To the unemployed? No. To improving the competitiveness of the export industry? No.
Oh, I see. Well, what about civil servants’ salaries? Yes! Public sector pay raises? Yes! Paid annual leave for teachers? Yes! Subsidizing low-productivity jobs? Yes! Creating additional government positions in remote areas? Yes! Unprofitable transportation projects in the country’s sixth-largest city? Yes! Business subsidies? Yes! Agricultural subsidies? Yes! For retirees? Yes!
Those who support an ever-expanding state thus support increasing the privileges of the privileged, but do not support joint projects from which everyone would benefit as much as possible.
When you truly understand what it means to be privileged, it changes your worldview.
