Is Liberty an Illusion?

in FreeSpeech4 years ago (edited)

As I write this post just a few weeks after Independence Day, I want to ask readers what they think of the concept of liberty.

This question is particularly relevant as we try to manage the effects of COVID-19 and the governmental responses to it. Does liberty mean a responsibility to do everything the experts say to mitigate the risk of potential asymptomatic spread, or does it mean taking personal responsibility to explore dissenting opinions, act upon them, and accept the consequences? Heated arguments are made on both sides, with mountains of insults replacing a lack of evidence.

Additionally, the quarantines and lockdowns resulted in the peculiar rescheduling of tax filing deadlines in the US from April 15 to July 15 this year. There is an old saying that, "taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society," but these taxes are enforced by uncivilized means and fund uncivilized government aggression. Right now, the US is embroiled in militarism abroad and police state abuse at home.

People are protesting and rioting in the street in response to yet another instance of police abuse, and the response has been doubling down on authoritarianism when people demand reform. I may have complaints against the people behind BLM and their political goals, but the incident sparking this wave of unrest is part of a long chain of injustice that needs to be addressed.

There are some who say liberty is impossible until we have a Universal Basic Income scheme to ensure no one needs to work unless they want, and the fallout from the shutdown is more proof. Never mind that consumption requires prior production, and governments cannot give away wealth they did not take first from someone else. This kind of zero-sum game cannot result in progress, and the perverse incentives it creates makes it unlikely to even be a zero-sum game in reality.

Despite all of this, I do not accept the claim that real liberty is an illusion. Yes, people may respond violently to those who choose to live as freely as they can, but that does not negate the principle. No, government as we know it cannot be used as a tool to build a free society. Yes, liberty is dangerous. But so is subservience. The security promised by the State is the security of the prison cell, just like the mich more obvious punishment they offer for disobedience.

It is the liberty offered in the name of the State which is an illusion. The independent mind seeking opportunity for freedom every day, applying reason to choices available to us, that can understand real liberty. It is a hard road, but worth the effort.

My apologies for any typos resulting from creating and editing this post on a smartphone touchscreen.

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Statists: liberty is the freedom to exercise whatever choice the State gives you.

Me: so basically, "paper or plastic," then. This, right here, is why I grow my own food.

Statists: rugged individualism is an antiquated, romantic fantasy! Grow up, it's the 21st century!

Me: ah, the "current age" argument. Piss off, I can 3D print like it's 2020 and farm like it's 1820 if I want to.

There is an old saying that, "taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society," but these taxes are enforced by uncivilized means and fund uncivilized government aggression.

Isn't 'Government' a great asset to civility? What would we do without their righteous leadership? lol

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