Limits Matter

Greek mythology is often taught as if the Greeks truly held it as their religion. 

Yet many scholars hold a different view. 

For example, Greek stories about the Gods of Olympus were clearly a commentary on aristocrats, and may also have been a way of describing human psychological traits. 

In this sense, consider the words of Hesoid:

Zeus rules the world, and with resistless sway

Takes back tomorrow what he grants today

When government oversees a sector of the economy, whatever it is, it can give and take as it chooses. 

When we turn a part of society over to government, we lose it forever. 

If its main role is to protect inalienable rights, meaning that it naturally belongs to government, then the loss is worth it. 

Otherwise, it is a tragedy, and guarantees that we will bequeath less freedom and prosperity to our posterity. 

Government is good for certain things, but it must not be given the power of Zeus.

The great Greek constitution writer Solon put it thus:

If you now suffer, do not blame the Powers,

For they are good, and all the fault was ours;

All the strongholds you put in his hands,

And now his slaves must do what he commands.