So I decided I wanted to look up the definition of Freedom, as you here some conservatives throw the word around rather a lot. Here is part of the definition of Freedom:
: the quality or state of being free: as
a: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action
c: the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous
h: unrestricted use
Hence the lack of Law or rules. The ability to do as you please. This means no Government large or small, period. It is also allowing you to decide what is right and what is wrong. So why do we not live like this instead? Isn’t this the so-called reason for Free Will? The ability to self determine? Well in a manner of speaking yes. However in practice we know what happens when there are No rules or Law: Anarchy -
a: absence of government
b: a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority
c: a utopian society of individuals who enjoy complete freedom without government
2a: absence or denial of any authority or established order
b: absence of order : disorder
Total and complete Freedom. No one telling you what to do, you deciding what is right or wrong. so why do we not live that way then? Look at definition 2b, absence or order: disorder. So, now let’s define disorder: I am going with 2: breach of the peace or public order. There is no peace without order. To have order, we must have rules, or Law.
So now let’s define Law:
1a (1): a binding custom or practice of a community : a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority
(2): the whole body of such customs, practices, or rules
(3): common law
b (1): the control brought about by the existence or enforcement of such law
(2): the action of laws considered as a means of redressing wrongs; also : litigation
(3): the agency of or an agent of established law
c: a rule or order that it is advisable or obligatory to observe
d: something compatible with or enforceable by established law e: control, authority
2a often capitalized : the revelation of the will of God set forth in the Old Testament
b capitalized : the first part of the Jewish scriptures : pentateuch, torah — see bible table
3: a rule of construction or procedure <the laws of poetry>
4: the whole body of laws relating to one subject
5a: the legal profession
b: law as a department of knowledge : jurisprudence
c: legal knowledge
6a: a statement of an order or relation of phenomena that so far as is known is invariable under the given conditions
b: a general relation proved or assumed to hold between mathematical or logical expressions
— at law
: under or within the provisions of the law <enforceable at law>
I know kind of long huh? But it is important to read this definition. Law establishes order, creates rules of conduct and behavior. It also prevents Anarchy & Chaos. However it also limits Freedom, which as we know is the lack of constraint, or rules: such as Law. This is why we should not throw the term Freedom around so casually. So, we do need Government in as much as we need something to enforce rules & Law. The thing is we Humans need limitations otherwise we revert to natural anarchy. We cannot live without some sort of rules. The trick is to limit the size of Government, as it is controlled and manned by Humans. And when left to our own devices, we gravitate towards Power.
Let’s define Power, here is what I am looking at: a: possession of control, authority, or influence over others: and c: a controlling group : establishment. Unfortunately power left unchecked continues to grow. And Absolute power or unchecked power will corrupt. This is a belief that no one stands over you and can tell you what to do, you rule over all. Fortunately our founding fathers knew this all too well and thus established a Republican form of Government. Let’s define Republic: a (1) : a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president (2) : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government b (1) : a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to law (2) : a political unit (as a nation) having such a form of government.
A Republic limits the Power or Government. It establishes rules and Law to direct how Government is to be operated. It does also limit Freedoms, but does not erase said freedoms completely. They chose a Republican form of Government as the alternative is what is known as Pure Democracy, which is: : democracy in which the power is exercised directly by the people rather than through representatives. In such a scenario the people have no constraint. If the majority of people decide they don’t like you and decide that you need to be put to death, they can do it. No, Democrats do not truly want that. They like Government, because with it they can control others.
Now you see why we need a Republican form of Government, & Laws. While this limits Freedom, it also limits Power, and prevents a Pure Democracy. We need rules; otherwise there is nothing but chaos & Anarchy. You may have heard from time to time, that we do not have a perfect Government, but it is the best one out there. This is not true. We DO have a perfect Government, provided the people remain involved. We the people decide our fate and our future. We tell our Government what is and is not acceptable, by redresses, and by voting. If our leaders fail, we replace them. If we dislike what is happening in the Legislature we redress our grievances to them. If they ignore us, we vote them out and start again. We have the perfect system of checks & balances. Not only in the Government itself, but in our daily lives. There is a balance to freedom. Too much and you have chaos, too little and you have totalitarianism. Have a problem with what is going on in the Government? Stand up and say something about it. Get others involved. And for goodness sakes, get out there and Vote!
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