The Right to Good Faith: How Crony Capitalism Delegitimizes the Administrative State

People subject to the coercive rule of government have at least a prima facie right to be governed competently and in good faith. Governmental power is legitimate and authoritative only when exercised by a competent body that makes decisions competently and in good faith. Crony capitalism, bailouts, and rent-seeking show that certain governments, such as the United States federal government, systematically violate citizens’ rights to competence and good faith. Citizens in those regimes have a right to a more limited scope for government control over the economy.