The Tyranny of Good Intentions by Paul Craig Roberts & Lawrence M. Stratton Summary

The Tyranny of Good Intentions critiques how prosecutors and bureaucrats erode constitutional rights like due process and property protections under the guise of pursuing justice. Authors Paul Craig Roberts and Lawrence M. Stratton argue that both liberals and conservatives enable government overreach through policies prioritizing convictions over fairness, with examples ranging from coercive plea bargains to abusive asset forfeiture laws.

Paul Craig Roberts is an economist, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Reagan (1981), and co-author of The Tyranny of Good Intentions. A prolific columnist and academic, he’s known for advocating supply-side economics and critiquing government overreach. His career spans roles at The Wall Street Journal, Stanford’s Hoover Institution, and Georgetown University.

This book suits legal professionals, civil liberties advocates, and readers concerned with government power abuse. It offers historical insights into eroding rights, making it valuable for those interested in criminal justice reform, constitutional law, or libertarian critiques of prosecutorial misconduct.

Yes—it’s a provocative examination of systemic legal corruption, praised by figures like Milton Friedman. While criticized for its polemic tone, its harrowing case studies and analysis of forfeiture laws, plea bargaining, and bureaucratic overreach remain relevant for understanding modern justice system flaws.

The book highlights:

• Withheld evidence in high-profile cases.
• Coerced confessions in child abuse trials.
• Politically motivated prosecutions, such as targeting Exxon after the Valdez oil spill.

These examples illustrate how officials prioritize convictions over truth.

Plea bargaining coerces defendants into admitting guilt to avoid trial risks, even if innocent. This system sacrifices justice for efficiency, eroding the presumption of innocence and enabling wrongful convictions.

It traces protections like due process to the Magna Carta (1215) and English common law, arguing modern legal practices—such as retroactive laws and asset forfeiture—betray these foundations. The authors warn against repeating tyrannical patterns seen in pre-constitutional eras.

• Reinstate mens rea (intent) requirements.
• Hold prosecutors accountable for misconduct.
• Public awareness campaigns to reclaim eroded rights.

These measures aim to restore legal safeguards against arbitrary state power.

Cases like Leona Helmsley’s tax evasion charges and abusive civil forfeiture laws exemplify how officials bypass constitutional protections. The authors argue such practices normalize “guilty until proven innocent” standards.

The authors blame Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian philosophy (“greatest good for the greatest number”) for justifying rights violations. They argue this mindset enables prosecutors and regulators to trample individuals for perceived societal benefits.

Historically, laws shielded citizens from state power. Today, agencies weaponize regulations against individuals—a shift the authors call a “tyranny of good intentions.” For example, forfeiture laws now let police seize property without charges.

Critics argue its polemic tone oversimplifies complex issues, such as portraying J. Edgar Hoover as a restraint model. However, its core warnings about prosecutorial abuse and eroded liberties resonate across ideological lines.