Freedom and Liberty

On my short drive to work this morning, this started stewing in my brain. What freedoms are people willing to barter?

For the sake of argument, let’s say that each American has ten freedoms that they have held near and dear to their hearts for as long as can be remembered. Over the years, these freedoms become less and less of a right and more of an expectation. People have forgotten the sacrifices of those that came before them in order to achieve these ten freedoms.

One day, the government says to the people “we will protect you from those who wish to harm Americans if you give up just four of your freedoms”. The people think about this and weigh out the pros and cons and determine that giving up just four freedoms wouldn’t be all that bad. They are able to choose the four they are willing to throw out for the promise of protection. So much time has gone by between their forefathers and them that they have forgotten that one of the government’s rolls is already to protect them from other countries.

Some time goes by and the people are comforted by how the government has been protecting them. As you may expect, the government asks the people to give up some more freedoms. They don’t mention the other four given up previously other than to say that this time, they are only asking for two; half as many. They promise to provide for your well being and you will not have to worry about a roof over your head nor food in your stomach. When you go to the doctor, the government will pay for it and when your kids need to go to college, they will take care of that as well. “Wow,” you and other Americans say, “that’s one hell of a deal… we’ll take it!!” And another two freedoms have been bartered.

More time goes by and all seems well. You don’t have a mortgage payment, you get a check in the mail for doctor visits and you even get a check for half of your electric bill that is now quadruple in cost. Fantastic… the government is on your side.

One day you get an official letter telling you that the government is taking away one more of your freedoms. They didn’t ask this time, they just assumed you would give it up. For this trade, you will receive new wiring for your home, a free television, a computer with free internet service, and a special item that allows better outside access to the government. “Cool,” you think “I will have more of a say in my government.”

You now have four freedoms but are beginning to forget how many you had before the government started this exchange program.

More time goes by and you are content. You have a free house, you now receive government money directly into your checking account and within ten minutes you are in contact with a government official. You are finally safe from anyone who may wish to harm you.

One day you go out into the world and attempt to utilize one of your last four freedoms only to find out that it was taken away some time ago. You say “but no one asked me if they could take it and no one told me it was taken nor gave me anything as compensation”. The government says to you “you are no longer in charge of these things… we have determined that we must think for you because you can no longer think for yourself.”

What were the original four freedoms you gave up… what were the two after that… which one did they take and then tell you about and which have they now stolen? Does it matter to you at all?

Soon, you have only one freedom left and it is more precious than food or water or gold or any number of things we stamp with a value. You grasp it with both hands; you horde it deep in your consciousness. You try to pretend it doesn’t exist in order to hide it away from others. They certainly wouldn’t take away this, the most precious item you now (finally) hold near and dear to your heart. They wouldn’t take away this one last freedom, would they?

The better question is… why wouldn’t they?

The original trade of the four freedoms was not a trade, but instead a theft. You should not bargain for something you already have. If you don’t pay for your house, do you think you will be able to choose where you live? If you don’t pay for your food or your doctor or your child’s college or other such items, do you think you will be able to choose those either? Do you believe receiving anything from the government is truly free? Would you allow them full access to your house and your life? Would you accept them saying “you can no longer think for yourself”? Would you forget your freedoms just because they no longer exist? Would you fight for your freedoms or just let them slip through your fingers?

They will not take away your freedoms until after you prove you are willing to give some up. Once it is determined that you are shallow enough to bargain with such a valuable commodity as liberty, they will rightly assume you are willing to have all of your freedoms taken away.

And do you think once you give up a freedom, you will be able to change your mind and get it back? There are some things you can’t “do over”. Life does not have a “restart” button.

And above all else, Freedom and Liberty are not bargaining tools.

Written by By Jill

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Quote: They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Quote: Freedom is not free. ~Martin Luther King Jr.