"Those who torment us for our own good, will do so without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

In his book Liberty and Tyranny Mark Levin points out that the word liberal is, in the classical meaning, the opposite of authoritarianism. Therefore, Levin suggests it is more accurate "to characterize the Modern Liberal as Statist." Statists are "constantly agitating for government action on behalf of an endless parade of "victims."

Statists build a culture of conformity and dependency. However, "when living freely and pursuing his own legitimate interests, the individual displays qualities that are antithetical to the Statist's - initiative, self-reliance, and independence." "The primary principle around which the Statist organizes can be summed up in one word - "equality," but the Statist misuses equality to pursue uniform economic and social outcomes." "The Statist wants Americans to see themselves as backwards, foolishly holding to their quaint notions of individual liberty, private property, family and faith, long diminished or jettisoned in other countries."

Levin continues, "The Statist relies on legions of academics to serve as his missionaries. The first cousin of the academics is Hollywood." The Statist is also assisted by the media whom Levin describes as "parasites of the Statist," and on whom the individual must rely inordinately for disseminating information. Because talk radio is generally hostile to the Statist, there are current efforts underway to "circumscribe the content of speech on talk radio." When economic hardship exists, often at the hand of the Statist, the media joins the Statist in condemning the free market and advocating for more government.

Levin quotes the writer-philosopher C.S. Lewis, who wrote, "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupididy may sometimes be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."