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It's All About Freedom!

It is Time to Return to Liberty

Whenever election season comes around the politicians will be out in full force telling you all the wonderful things they have done for you or will do for you if elected. Many Americans today are cynical about politics and politicians and they have every reason to be. The governmentwe have today is a far cry from what the founders of this nation envisioned. The founders boldly stated in the Declaration of Independence:

Thus the founders declared that every human, by their mere existence, has rights and these rights are equal to the rights of every other person. The rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, indicate the founders belief that each person has the right to live their life as they see fit, so long as they don't infringe on the rights of others. The founders then state that the purpose of government is to protect these natural rights and the only powers the government has are those given to it by the people. This is the libertarian philosophy of self government, which means personal responsibility and tolerance of others. It recognizes that each person is unique and should have the freedom to decide what is best for them. Freedom leads to innovation and new ideas which makes for a better life for all.

"The policy of the American government is to leave its citizens free, neither restraining them nor aiding them in their pursuits." -- Thomas Jefferson

Today, instead of the government protecting our rights, we have a government that works for the special interest groups or constituencies that help politicians get elected. The government is used by these groups and politicians to dole out special favors. These special favors range from tax breaks and direct government subsidies, to rules and regulations telling others how to live. All this merely encourages other groups to form, seeking their special favors from the government. With more groups seeking something from the government, there is more money being throw at politicians to win their favor. This leads to political corruption.

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence -- it is force." -- George Washington

Government today is an agency of coercion (force). Instead of working to have people voluntarily buy a product, change their behavior or help others, people now turn to government to force others to do what they wish. These politicians and groups will claim that they have society's or the community's best interest at heart and that they posses the expert knowledge to know what is best. This is, of course, the same rational used by the royal rulers of the founders era and every dictator of the modern age. By resorting to force these politicians and groups demonstrate what a low opinion they have of the public and what a high opinion they have of themselves. These politicians and groups believe that if given the freedom to make choices, the public will make the wrong ones. These politicians and groups think they have the right to impose their views on everyone, whether you agree or not. This use of force is the cause of many of the problems we face today. By forcing others to live a certain way we limit them from achieving their full potential. Use of force leads to social strife and reduced economic growth.

The modern government does the bidding of those who are organized and well funded, while trampling on those who aren't. We need to remember that any government powerful enough to take from someone else to give you what you want, is a government that is powerful enough to take all that you have and give it to others. We need to return to the libertarian philosophy of the nation's founders, respecting each individual, allowing them to discover their abilities and realize their full potential, while pursuing their own dreams, their own way.

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E-mail: jimrongstad@rongstad.org

Page Updated: August 20, 2005

© 1998 - 2005 by Jim Rongstad. Permission to use is granted as long as author is acknowledged.