Stephen LaTulippe’s reference to Andy Griffith in his article on police officers reminded me of how profoundly unlibertarian I have always found the Andy Griffith Show. The message of the show is we would be better off under the guidance of an all-wise leader.

Except for Andy everyone in Mayberry is a fool. Floyd, Otis, Goober, Gomer, even Opie and Aunt Bea all regularly create problems which only the wise leader, Sheriff Andy, can solve.

What about Barney Fife? He may big the biggest fool in Mayberry and he is a government official. Yes, but Barney is harmless because he is kept in line by the all-wise Andy. See, fools and knaves with state power are not a threat because they can only rise so far in the state apparatus and, like the rest of us, the fools working for the state will be kept in line by the wise leaders above them.