Who’s in charge?: Rereading Elizabeth Anderson’s ‘Private Government’

Published February 28, 2025 12:30am ET



Imagine a government where citizens face limited autonomy, strict hierarchies, and personal monitoring by a superior, where a routine is mandated for those on the lower rungs of the social order to follow. In this system, supervisors operate with unchecked power, often issuing arbitrary orders that may change without notice or opportunity for appeal. Subordinates, stripped of the ability to challenge their treatment or contribute to decision-making, are bound to comply, creating a society ruled by centralized authority. The only way to escape that system of government is to leave everything behind, potentially losing your livelihood and no longer provide for yourself or your family.

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