A Confusion of Terms
Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confuses
the distinction between government and society. As a result of this,
every time we object to a thing being done by government, the
socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all.
We disapprove of state education. Then the socialists say that we
are opposed to any education. We object to a state religion. Then
the socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object to a
state-enforced equality. Then they say that we are against equality.
And so on, and so on. It is as if the socialists were to accuse us of
not wanting persons to eat because we do not want the state to raise
grain.