The insidious dominance of the State

Stumbled across these prophetic words on the power of the State from Alexis de Tocqueville in his 'Democracy in America'.

"Government extends its embrace to include the whole of society. It covers the whole of social life with a network of petty, complicated rules that are both minute and uniform, through which even men of the greatest originality and the most vigorous temperament cannot force their heads above the crowd. It does not break men's will, but softens, bends, and guides it; it seldom enjoins, but often inhibits action; it does not destroy anything, but prevents much being born; it is not at all tyrannical, but it hinders, restrains, enervates, stifles, and stultifies..."

Just perfectly sums up Blair's Britain. Nothing overtly sinister, just constant strangulation.