On multiple occasions William Shakespeare wrote of the primrose path. In Macbeth the porter describes the primrose path as the “way to the everlasting bonfire.” In All’s Well That Ends Well the clown describes the primrose path as the “flow’ry way that leads to the broad gate and the great fire.”

Shakespeare clearly saw the primrose path as the pathway that leads to destruction. The primrose path is enticing and holds great allure to all travelers. We can view the primrose path as the easy road. It is the road of good intentions. It is the inviting road. It is the shortcut, the get rich quick scheme. It teaches the traveler to be risk adverse. The primrose path is the illusory path to perfection. The primrose path weakens the muscles as they are never exposed to the difficult terrain of the desert or cliff side climb. The primrose path falsely promises beauty while actually leading to destruction. The primrose path lulls the traveler into a false sense of security. Only once the traveler is engulfed in flames does he realize the primrose path has brought him to the destructive flames of the bonfire.

Everyone needs to be aware of their personal primrose path and the societal primrose paths that can be traveled. The coercive power of the state is unrivaled. Only through the centralization and concentration of power can the greatest atrocities be committed. Governments may try to present the accumulation of power as a beautiful primrose path to their citizens. In exchange for this power you will be granted benefits from cradle to grave. This primrose path will rob freedom from citizens and crush individuality. It will stifle innovation and weaken society. Citizens will become docile and subservient until they can no longer resist. Those who reject the primrose path must be destroyed so others remain too frightened to leave the path even when they can see the bonfire in the distance.

The false promises of politicians pave the primrose path. It is far better to forge your own path. The road may be rocky and countless obstacles my block your progress but the rewards are immense. Booker T Washington provides an example. He was born into slavery and gained his freedom following the Civil War. He valued education and was willing to work hard and take risks to gain his education. He slept outdoors on his way to college because he couldn’t afford lodging. He worked long hours to secure his place. Washington continued to take risks and accumulated great success.

The political sophistry on the primrose path is convincing and it leads to the bonfire. The political leaders of today would have you believe they can solve all of your problems. It is only though expansive programs that solutions can be found. They are never held accountable for the results of those programs.

Congress cannot pass a budget without threats of shutdown, continuing resolutions, and omnibus spending bills. Yet at the same time members of Congress like Patrick Fallon and Debbie Schultz are able to have returns of over 50% on their stock returns in 2022 according to Unusual Whales.

Politicians determined what businesses were essential and crushed everyone deemed nonessential. As a result the largest corporations got richer and the average individual saw rampant inflation and supply chain disruptions.

As Ernest Hemingway once said “The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists.”

Resist expansion of the government. Play an active role in speaking out against government corruption and mismanagement. Break away from the primrose path. Following the primrose path will lead to inflation and war. You will end up in the bonfire and those encouraging you to walk down the primrose path will walk away with wealth untold. Forge your own path. Take risks. Avoid the bonfire.