Compassion or Coercion? What Is the Role of Government in a Free Society?

Supporters hold signs as former USAID employees are terminated after the Trump administration dismantled the agency, at the USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 27, 2025 Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images

Commentary

In the ongoing debate about the role of government in addressing societal issues, a crucial misconception often surfaces on one side: The desire to help others equates to a mandate for state intervention.