The Power of Flattery  Much time and energy has been spent on
the issue of why intellectuals seem so disproportionately in
favor of highly statist ideologies such as socialism and
communism. Many ideas have been suggested, from resentment of
those who are wealthier but less educated (Mises) to an
exaggerated confidence in the power of rational planning (Hayek)
to psychological factors going back to childhood (Nozick) to
simple class interest (Rothbard). The reason for this phenomenon
is probably quite complex, but there is one aspect of it that
does not seem to get as much attention: the way in which statism
flatters intellectuals.  The glorification of intellectuals has
been a feature of many statist philosophies. (This is
predominately a feature of left-wing statism, since right-wing
statism tends to have a lower opinion of human reason.) Plato
had his philosopher-kings, whose rule by reason would save the
ignorant, desire-controlled masses from their own contemptible
natures. Lenin had his revolutionary va