In "The Discovery of Freedom," Rose Wilder Lane argues that when people defer their well-being to a perceived Authority, it perpetuates a cycle of dependence that leads to detrimental societal outcomes. This reliance on an external figure for guidance fosters a mindset that is not only submissive but also stifling, as it creates a framework within which individuals relinquish personal responsibility.

The author posits that this blind obedience ultimately results in negative consequences, including poverty and conflict. When a large segment of the population believes that their fate is linked to an external Authority, it diminishes their potential for self-governance and innovation, leading to a society where fear and submission overshadow freedom and prosperity.