Hayek

Contrary to my initial worry, The Road to Serfdom turns out to be an excellent reading.

True, the English is a bit bumpy - typical of writings by German-speaking authors. Nonetheless, Hayek put up a horrifying but absolutely logical argument, showing us a road of no return once we decide to intervene on a small part of our economy or social policy:

1. Intervention of a small part of the economy system eventually lead to total control (or, "planning") of the whole economy,
2. which would then inevitably include control of the government and political system,
3. which will give birth to a dictator (and the worst come to the top of the society),
4. who will shut down voices of opposition, restrict information, and take off personal freedom.

Well, you may not agree with the whole of his idea, but history tells us that there is at least some truth in it. After all, it is always an enjoyable intellectual exercise to follow a (long and) logical argument to arrive at somewhere that you have not thought of.