Magnifisyncopathological

"The current chaotic state of affairs where small to medium scale enterprises operated outside the regulatory framework and in undesignated and crime-ridden areas could not be countenanced much longer," he said.

Did these words come from

• New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
• Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany
• SEC Chairman William H. Donaldson
• President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela
• Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
• Executive President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe

I'd make a safe bet that a majority of almost any population would have little to no problem with the content of the statement above. It is the normal state of affairs. Individuals have tried to escape or avoid "the regulatory framework" since the beginning of such frameworks. The smaller businesses are at greater risk than multi-million-dollar corporations that are more likely to be politically well-connected and have the resources to dissect and implement new rules. The informality of smaller enterprises helps to connect the community. Unlicensed transactions, unregulated exchanges, and other illegal activities on the black market are sustained when government pressure is applied. It is natural for the state to be wary of small businessmen and women.

What I find most interesting about the statement is its broad applicability. It really could come from any government agent. It certainly would not be stretch of imagination to picture a state representative from France, Russia, or Egypt saying it. In the United States, there are countless state agents who, if they said that, it would go without comment because that's the reputation they've earned. However, this statement's context (as you'll eventually see) is more immediate, violent, and worrisome than your typical appointee complaining about a few sole proprietorships ignoring the minutiae of OHSA, IRS, or ADA requirements.

Should a modern society begin to break down, I'd expect nearly every bureaucrat to sing the same song. Should there be a strike along the lines of Atlas Shrugged where individuals increasingly refuse to submit themselves to government rule and micromanagement, I'd expect to hear comments along the same lines.

The person who said that was Robert Mugabe. Apparently, there are quite a few people in Zimbabwe who aren't following his orders.