THE COST OF FREEDOM

Freedom-exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

These are important questions to think about when we hear the word freedom:

•  What is freedom? 

•  Why is freedom important? 

•  Who is demanding freedom and why does it matter? 

•  How can freedom be dangerous? 

What is freedom?

Freedom is an exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc. Freedom liberates the individual(s) who is demanding it. It allows individuals to do as they desire without external oversight. 

Why is freedom important?

Freedom is important because it liberates individuals who maybe governed, controlled or ruled by an oppressive state, government, dictatorship, etc. If freedom is obtained, those individuals will be manumitted and will acquire the ability to do what they desire.

Who is demanding freedom? 

It is important to consider the individuals who are demanding freedom: Who are they? What do they intend to do once they acquire freedom? These are important questions and here's why: colonists in North America wanted their freedom from Great Britain, because they did not want to share their "new found wealth" in the form of taxation. They owned slaves, murdered indigenous people and stole their land. While they had slaves in chains, they cried for their freedom from Great Britain. These hypocrites, murderers, thieves, rapist, vipers and devils were crying for freedom, while they despoiled a nation inhabited by millions of people and enslaved millions more from the African continent.

 Why does it matter who's demanding freedom?

It matters because the individuals who are demanding freedom may have malevolent, odious, menacing, insidious and surreptitious desires. North American colonists murdered 90% of Native Americans within the first two centuries of their arrival to the continent; enslaved, raped, tortured and terrorized millions of African slaves; and created a nation that waged unjust wars on small nations, and were the first and only nation to use a nuclear bomb in war. Their freedom came at a tremendous cost to other people around the world. 

Today we hear right-wing politicians, corporations, and the rich calling for freedom. Their call for freedom consists of lower taxes, less government and regulations/oversight. These were also the desires of North American colonists. From what we know about the colonists demand for freedom, we should ask ourselves if their call for freedom is also pernicious and dangerous for the populace. Due to their insatiable and voracious appetite for wealth and power, we should be vigilant and suspicious of their call for freedom. 

How can freedom be dangerous?

Freedom can be dangerous if those who are demanding freedom are immoral, unethical, greedy, pompous, racist and violent. (Murderers can ask a parole board for freedom, but the board will be suspicious of the request and will ask many questions.) Due to the fact that we live in a capitalist society, we should be very suspicious when wealthy individuals utter the word freedom. Once the colonists’ wealth increased, and Great Britain began to tax their wealth, they demanded freedom. Today, the rich are getting richer and they're demanding freedom. What will be the result of their freedom: they will have tremendous amounts of capital at their disposal, ownership of land across vast regions, and ownership of companies that many of us depend on. What position would that leave the populace in? It would put them in a needy and desperate position. The populace will be forced by necessity to capitulate to any demands put forth by the wealthy, and will see their freedom and rights fade away before their eyes. 

"One man's freedom can be another man's enslavement."-CLS1