Governments do not exist to solve problems and the record of history is unequivocally clear that every time governments try to solve problems, they end up creating far more problems than they end up solving.
The My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Season 2 mid-season finale/Holiday special demonstrates this point very well. In a pageant portraying the founding of Equestria, it is revealed that prior to Equestria’s founding, ponies existed in 3 segregated, centrally managed tribes (essentially the equivalent to modern day nation states).
Although not directly shown, it is inferred that a tenuous trade agreement between the Earth, Pegasus, and Unicorn pony tribes is maintained, or at the very least heavily influenced by the three representative governments of each tribe: the Pegasus military dictatorship of Commander Hurricane, the clueless, democratically elected Earth Pony Councillor Puddinghead, the self-indulged, elitist monarch unicorn, Princess Platinum.
As is the universal standard every time governments try to manage anything, the tenuous equilibrium of trade and sustainable coexistence between the three tribes starts to break down. As a consequence of this disharmony between the pony tribes, evil Wendigo’s afflict the land the three tribes occupy with a horrible blizzard that leads to starvation, suffering and eventually hostile conflict.
While Wendigo’s are strictly a My Little Pony phenomenon, the starvation, suffering, and conflict governments create whenever they get involved in trying to fix societies problems are very real. The brilliance of this episode is that it really does not matter what system of government exists, excessive government intervention into the lives of those they govern ALWAYS ends tragically for those being governed.
Perhaps the most memorable scene from this episode, the one that I think perfectly portrays the government to citizen relationship is one of Princess Platinum, muzzling and riding Clover the Clever’s back to cross a small, trivial stream. Again, it does not matter what system exists (democracy, dictatorship, or monarchy), governments that extend themselves beyond the function of protecting the individual right to self ownership end up being a useless dead weight.
Perhaps the most heartening and encouraging message of this episode, was the climactic conclusion. After being trapped in an inescapable cave, facing certain doom as a result of their government’s ineptitude and overbearing rule, the individual ponies of the three tribes united in the spirit of friendship to save themselves. I'll note Fluttershy's dialogue has to be the cutest expression of a Libertarian's attitude towards bloated, overextended, unnecessary government:
It’s ironic, but very telling and realistic that the only way that the individual ponies were able to solve the problems they as a society were facing, was by their governments rule being paralyzed by the Wendigo’s that thrived off the inept disharmony sowed between one another. Just as in real life, governments create such strife and disharmony to the point that they cease to function only after they have placed the societies they govern in grave peril.
This is a very powerful lesson that speaks to the creative power of a society that is left alone and freed from the burden of government that extends itself beyond its only legitimate purpose. Governments that ride on the backs of its citizens and squable with other governments out of naked self interest create poverty, shortage, and misery. Governments that allow the magic of capitalism to work end up creating magical kingdoms of prosperity, abundance, friendship and happiness.
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