The Creed of Freedom
Freedom is defined as the absence of control over your life by way of force or coercion; the absence of constraint over your thoughts, your choices, and your actions. If you're truly "free," then you enjoy liberty, which is the unobstructed expression of your Freedom--you, acting according to your own free will within the boundaries drawn around you by the equal rights of others.
Note that I don't add "within the limits of the law." Why? Because laws are often unjust, and especially so when they violate the rights of an individual.
Of course, the opposite of freedom is slavery, which is any system of control or exploitation which is aimed at coercing or forcing human beings to become unwillingly or unwittingly subservient to, or excessively dependent upon, a dominating influence.
Amidst the frequent discussions on defending freedom, the essence of this vital concept remains elusive to many. The world yearns for a clear, unambiguous declaration of principles--a Creed such as this one that all people of goodwill can embrace with both clarity and conviction.
Intrinsic Nature of Rights
I believe that rights belong to individuals rather than groups. Rights are inherent, so they cannot not be bestowed by government; for if rights can be granted by the state, then they can also be rescinded by the state, which undermines genuine liberty. If rights can be taken away, then they were never rights to begin with. They were just temporary privileges, subject to the whims of the state.
Limits of State Power
I hold that a legitimate government derives its authority from the consent of the governed. Therefore, the state must not exceed the actions that are permissible to individual citizens. When it does, it ceases to be a servant of the people and becomes their ruler.
Supremacy of the Individual
One of freedom's greatest threats is the tyranny of the majority, where the rights of the minority are trampled by the numerical might of others. A fair state must safeguard each citizen from the majority's whims and passions with the Rule of Law.
Freedom of Choice
Social and economic goals are best achieved through voluntary action rather than legal coercion. Harmony and unity are fostered more effectively through tolerance, persuasion, and exemplary conduct than through force. Assistance to those in need should come from charity, a personal choice to give, rather than from welfare, which redistributes others' earnings through compulsion.
Property Rights
The human tendency to own, protect, and value property is beneficial. It incentivizes productivity, which is crucial for human sustenance. Property rights reward resourcefulness and penalize waste, promoting prosperity. Dependence on the state for property leads to servitude rather than freedom.
Honest Monetary System
I advocate for the freedom to choose which currency to use based on its perceived value, rejecting monopolies on currency issuance, especially of fiat (unbacked and unredeemable) currencies which lead to corruption, inflation, and economic exploitation. Since 1913, with the establishment of the Federal Reserve, we've seen the detrimental effects of this system.
Unredeemable money will ruin commerce, oppress the honest, and permit every species of fraud and injustice. - George Washington
Equality Under the Law
All individuals should stand equal before the law, regardless of background or status. Favoring any group over another disrupts this equality, which is fundamental to justice.
Political Leadership
Leadership arises naturally within human societies, essential for order and collective endeavors. There are, however, two forms: one through coercion, typical in authoritarian regimes, and another through persuasion and example, found in free societies. We must judge our leaders on their actions in upholding the Constitution, not merely their words.
Proper Role of the State
The state's role is to protect the natural rights of its citizens, not to provide for them. Any expansion into provision inevitably leads to the appropriation of resources from some to benefit others, fostering dependency and eroding freedom. The state should focus on safeguarding life, liberty, and property of every citizen.
It is the greatest absurdity to suppose it in the power of one, or any number of men, at the entering into society, to renounce their essential natural rights... when the grand end of civil government... is for the support, protection, and defence of those very rights. - Samuel Adams
Government... should be formed to secure and to enlarge the exercise of the natural rights of its members; and every government, which has not this in view, as its principal object, is not a government of the legitimate kind. - James Wilson
This Creed of Freedom is a call to action for all who cherish liberty, urging a return to principles that ensure individual rights and limit governmental overreach, fostering a society where freedom is not just an ideal but a lived reality.
