Freedom as We Know It

Freedom as we know it is being challenged. We are on the precipice of electing a bonafide socialist as the President of the United States as well as a Congress that is close to having a democratic super majority with a far left leadership. The consequences of these realities could very well create a divergence from our core values and spell an end to the United States as a major power as we know it. From the very beginning ideas such as rugged individualism and perseverance have shaped the cultural landscape, which are being replaced by a "what do I get?" mentality. Mr. Obama being compared so frequently to JFK is somewhat amusing to me, being as JFK espoused traditional American values. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.", where do we see such principles coming from Mr. Obama when he states he wants to "spread the wealth"?

"The care of every man's soul belongs to himself. But what if he neglect the care of it? Well what if he neglect the care of his health or his estate, which would more nearly relate to the state. Will the magistrate make a law that he not be poor or sick? Laws provide against injury from others; but not from ourselves. God himself will not save men against their wills." -Thomas Jefferson

You might find it ironic that I would find this quote by Thomas Jefferson on a my.barackobama.com page. But there it is, even while socialistic policies are being endorsed by Mr. Obama concepts of freedom and individual liberty inauspiciously rears its head in defiance.

It is an imperative for those who would like to preserve their own freedoms to oppose the push towards socialism. Obama was quoted as saying that he was "not optimistic about bringing major redistributive change through the courts." Whether this is because he felt that the makeup of the court was as such that he felt a correct interpretation of the constitution for redistribution of wealth was possible or that he thought that redistributive change could only be brought about by legislature or changes to the constitution is unclear. But I will submit that the treatise of wealth redistribution by means of taxation was not an intent of the founding fathers, and that moves away from the principles of our freedom loving founding fathers should be made with trepidation.

Why is socialism in such opposition to freedom? It is for socialism to work, it must be down by coercive physical force. One must be forced to give up the fruits of his labors to the confiscatory state. It is the epitome of repression of the minority, emphasized in the most defenseless group: The individual. What is capitalism at its heart? Pure unfettered laissez faire capitalism is the minimization of other humans ability to use coercive physical force to of one man unto another. The free and open exchange of goods and services. The role of government to protect the goals of freedom and independence.

I care as much for the good natured intentions of socialism, statistics, quality of life surveys, and rhetoric as I care for the needs of a mugger who holds me up at gun point. In this, I make no distinction between socialism and theft. The means cannot justify the ends when it comes to taking what I have justly created myself. I do however entertain such arguments for the pragmatic aim of preventing the rise of such ideals in others, for I do not believe socialism can stand as an efficient system even if freedom is not priority of man.