The Most Terrifying Words in the English Language

Ronald Reagan famously said in 1986, “I think you all know that I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help.” He understood that government was inherently limited in its competencies and, in a free society such as ours, needed to be limited in its powers.

For those of us who share Reagan’s political philosophy of modest government, the mayor-elect of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, may have just one-upped the Gipper. I hereby submit a new candidate for the most terrifying words in the English language, taken from Mamdani’s acceptance speech last night following his election:

Unlike Reagan, Mamdani used those words sincerely. He really means it. The proper remit of government is, in Zohran Mamdani’s conception of the world, everything.

Good luck, New York.