As an individual, I have the right to get married and have kids if I want to. At 30 years of age, I am not currently married and have no kids; that I know of at least. The main reason I have yet to marry is that I haven't found "the one". However, the reason that I haven't found that person might have as much to do with my wife not coming along as it has to do with my acknowledgement that I am not ready for her to come along. You see, as an individual, I would never engage in an agreement where I take on a substantail amount of responsibility for another person, without my own ability to do so. The same goes with children. If I were to engage in this type of an agreement, I would have to be secure in knowing that I could honor that agreement, even if I were to meet an untimely and premature demise.
Unfortunately, while I am busy scrambling around every day, trying to get myself to a place where I feel comfortable in my ability to support other people, I am busy paying for the unfortunate situation of others. Of course, I have no right to complain, because this is the precise definition of "liberty" as it is applied today, and as it is envisioned in Analysis' recent article Liberty For All.
This brand of liberty that Analysis beckons has obviously already arrived. It is called the welfare/warfare state. While, when I find myself in an unfortunate situation, I generally go to my family and friends for support, or I simply grin and bear it as my situation is usually a result of my own actions, Analysis would have me call on the State and the next door neighbor to provide me with my share of liberty. No doubt, the State would be happy to dole out, as it provides them with a little liberty in the process. The liberty of existing! Unfortunately, my neighbor has his/her own share of responsibilities, and the liberty that was sent my way had to come from somewhere.
Now, I am glad Analysis is doing his thing and putting his ideas out there, and I harbor no ill will towards him. However, I do see his outlook as the downfall of Western Civilization. While we, as a collective country, are doling out liberty worldwide, I am channeling my thoughts back to a different day. A day when I didn't have to pay to bail banks out of trouble that was caused by their own greedy actions. A day when I didn't have to subsidize the government for focusing solely on padding its pockets. A day where it wasn't necessary to debate same-sex marriages and early term abortions, because they had nothing to do with me. Now, obviously I was not alive during this day and it is disputable as to whether or not this day ever existed, but this is my dream and statists need not apply. And so, the dream of a statist utopian paradise, where the liberty of the world is provided by the hard work and labor of those who earn their own liberty, is now and has been a reality for some time.
In closing, liberty is defined as the freedom from external controls. Obviously, if an individual is forced to provide somebody else's liberty, they are being robbed of their own.
©2008 Gary R. Carter, all rights reserved. You must have written permission from the author in order to republish this work.
Published: Sunday, April 6, 2008
Last modified: Sunday, April 6, 2008
The views expressed in this article are those of Gary R. Carter only and do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Gary R. Carter is solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
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Reader Comments:
Posted By: Jake, the champion of the constitution
Date: 2008-04-06 08:34:12
Gary, I think the "day" you refer to is a dream of mine as well. Welcome to the Chart, and please keep writing! - Jake
Posted By: Gary R. Carter
Date: 2008-04-06 08:53:19
Well, thank you Jake!
Posted By: Republicae
Date: 2008-04-06 09:37:23
Yes, welcome to the Chart and good hunting!
Posted By: patrick henry
Date: 2008-04-06 19:48:15
Gary,
Welcome to the chart. All dreams may come tue with hard work and tireless commitment. I dream with thee!
LIBERTY or DEATH
Posted By: Gary R, Carter
Date: 2008-04-07 23:29:29
Liberty of death, indeed！Thanx for the warm welcome gentleman!
Posted By: gene
Date: 2008-11-15 15:31:11
Hi Gary, welcome, I am also a newcomer. Without supporting the ridiculous spending currently happening, whether for "welfare" related programs or "corporate welfare" programs, I have to add there is a deeper question. When a Society finds itself with people in need of basic necessities, whether due to failures of the economic system or innate personal problems that prohibit their abilities to provide for themselves, what action is taken? The answer, my guess would be, reflects on the freedoms of all.