The miraculous odyssey of Humanity can be represented in several ways. But the pinnacle reason we have been able to rise above the forces of nature is our amazing ability to advance at record speed. We do more than evolve, we excel at moving forward. For us it is not a simple matter of the evolutionary process, but carrying on the goal of our fathers to touch the stars. Our mastery of imagination can be seen in no better way than our pursuit of ideological bliss. However, our crusade for perfecting a philosophical and political system is more than the next step on our journey towards Eden. It is the necessary factor needed to succeed in everything else in society. From the days of Monarchy and Democracy until the beginning of the undying struggle of the proletariat, we have strained to find what will best suit our ever-changing societal structure. My belief is that what is best is freedom.
Any political or ideological system not directly related to our instincts as humans cannot succeed in the long run. For if it cannot push through the innumerable difficulties each century of societal progression brings, it will not be pursued. If this is indeed true, it significantly decreases the number of ideologies that will survive the complex scrutiny of mankind. This also gives a select few a distinct advantage because they share traits we as humans will always be able to resonate with. And it is here we find one of history’s most thought provoking philosophies; Freedom.
Freedom, tied in an evolutionary sense to all representative forms of government, has come far since the first glimpses of true self-autonomy in Athens. This is due in part because of its inalienable connection with the soul. Everyone wants to be free in some form. Either in movement, politics, exploration, or information. America, in part, was originally a refuge for those who longed to have freedom in the form of philosophy and religion. So it is no surprise to those who have long been tutored by antiquity that the need to be free has morphed into the particular form of politics in the United States.
Firstly, any system that dissolves the bond of responsibility of the many to the few and vice versa will immediately feel the burden of enforcing morality lifted off its shoulders. If the government no longer has a stake in artificially controlling the actions of its people, the people will be obviously inclined to act upon their own accord. This empowers the individual to act on his/her own wishes and ambitions which raises the levels of happiness, success, contentment, and aspirations within the population.
The concept that individualism is counter-productive to society as a whole is not necessary true. The overall happiness of each person effectives the entire group in a positive way. Society is not a separate living being. It is made up of individuals. Thus, anything that acts in favor of individuals (Without seriously hindering the contentment of others ) should raise the happiness of everyone affected and in-turn indirectly improves society by improving the lives of its members.
But even without consulting the positive effects of giving individuals the freedom to lead their lives in nonviolent ways, there is also the question of does the government even have the right to intervene in the first place. In a truly equal society, the rights of one man are not superseded by that of his neighbors. That does not change in any circumstance less it be by the individual’s own wrongdoing. Therefore, it must be assumed that breaking this moral code would not only be hypocritical in any situation, but immoral in the highest sense of philosophical and political terms in all. If we are to be truly bound by the belief that the rights of a man cannot be taken away, especially when the justification for the actions are unrelated to him, that cannot change despite any threat we may face. A philosophy is only as effective as the men who claim to live by it.
Like all philosophical notions, the concept of liberty is not entirely confined to any one area of life. Philosophy is not solely cultural or political. It is an overall plan to guide a person’s life in the wisest direction by that individual’s standards. Society is a big part of that, maybe even a leading factor. But if society is the infrastructure of human interaction, then surely economics is one of the main highways.
Much of the start of the major regulation of the American economy can be traced back to the presidency of Woodrow Wilson and the creation of the federal reserve. And after the acceptance of government intervention in the marketplace during FDR’s presidency, it became the norm and has led us to where we are today.
Regulation is probably the main source of aggravation for many libertarians and classical liberals. Most will agree basic regulation of the marketplace is needed to stop the creation of monopolies. The artificial system of trade, economics, and enterprise that humanity has slowly created over centuries is not natural. The instinct to get filthy rich may be, but not the system we employ to do it. And with all artificial creations of our own doing, we must judge whether or not the pro’s outweigh the cons. And if we come to the conclusion that such a thing is worth our time and energy, and I think we can all agree that the world economic platform is indeed worth keeping, we must face the fact that because it did not go through the evolutionary process of ‘survival of the fittest ‘but instead our own private judgement, it is fallible and will face several problems. One of those problems is the clogging up of the system (Monopolies) and the fastest way to undo this is direct intervention by a force that holds significant authority ( The government ) to unclog it so smaller businesses aren’t forced out of competition on a mass scale. The real issue for most, including myself, is the fact that that tool is used as a way of equalizing outcomes instead of equalizing opportunities.
Economic freedom is necessary for the growth and success of any nation. Few countries that reached great heights of economic power ever did it by artificially controlling its citizen’s freedom to participate in the marketplace. Even the very few that did usually offer some type of incentive to make up the difference with the power entrepreneurs did not have. Innovation, the mother of human progress, can only be truly experienced and amplified through economic and societal freedom.
Any system that does not put principle power into the hands of its participants automatically becomes susceptible to being led down the road to tyranny and authoritarianism. France had its Napoleon, Britain had Cromwell, Russia had Stalin and Iraq had Hussain. All these nations, and almost every nation in the history of mankind, had at a certain time at least one system built on the contract that the absolute power given to one man or woman would benefit the population. It always failed to do so in the end. Even if a king is wise and just, there is no reason to believe his descendants will be the same way when they hold power. This is because everyone is inclined to act upon their own wishes and dreams and believing that this natural human inclination to act in the best interest of self suddenly leaves when given the exact position to do this best is folly. If everyone instinctively does what is best for themselves, why not let them? Don’t give them the power to do so while taking advantage of millions of his fellow man. Simply give the tools to live life to the fullest, without letting him harm others around him, and let him be. Humanity is the greatest force in history. Nothing compares. We have built empires and made ungodly advancements in culture, science, and philosophy. So, drop the idea that we can somehow change the untouchable structure of the soul of man to fit a certain moral standard, and let the greatest being in history do what it does best; Flourish.
Many Libertarians do not have the luxury of being surrounded by like-minded people, and I can sympathize with that. But I truly believe it only makes us stronger. We did not grow up making casual conversation with our family members on how much we hated Obama or the Republican Congress. We grew up yelling at the dinner table whenever the issue of social liberty came up! We practically invented the art of devil’s advocate. Freedom matters because it is the only system that dissolves the ancient idea that monarchs or dictators know what is best for those they claim they have the right to rule. Trust in the fact that those around you know what is best for them, just as you know what is best for yourself.
* Caleb Mills is a political analyst, writer, and researcher who is currently working for atlasnews.com
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