Just Leave Us Alone

“There are those who just want to be left alone, and those who just won’t leave them alone.  Which on are you?”

This is one of my favorite quotes – it happens to be from Ernest Hancock of “Declare Your Independence.”

Everything really does boil down to this quote.  Liberty means being free to do whatever you want as long as you are not infringing on other people’s rights.  This is the “just want to be left alone” person.  And if you infringe on another’s rights, you’re one of those who just won’t leave others alone.  It doesn’t matter if you have good intentions and want to pass laws or regulations “for their own good.” 

Natural laws are an oxymoron: we don’t need to write down on paper “it is against the law to kill an innocent person.”  These laws are ingrained our brains so much that only those who are psychologically deficient (i.e. “screwed up in the head”) don’t understand these laws.  So although we can write these laws down to confirm “yeah you can’t hurt others and get away with it” the laws really aren’t necessary to write down. 

If you advocate for any other laws or regulations, however, you are one who of those who “just won’t leave them alone.”  If it doesn’t hurt you, why bother them?  If I suggest we pass a law that says “purple poka-dot shirts are ugly and therefore banned” most would say I’m crazy.  But why?  Well it’s obvious: I have NO RIGHT to tell others what they can wear.  I can make fun of them all I want or tell people what I think of their clothes (neither of which I would ever do, by the way).  But I have no right to forbid someone else from wearing purple poka-dotted shirts.  Freedom means sometimes I have to deal with others around me wearing something I don’t like.

It is important to emphasize what I mention in the podcast as well: being “left alone” doesn’t mean becoming a hermit.  If you say to yourself “I hate this quote because it says I either need government or have to be a hermit” then you’re missing the point.  Being “left alone” is in regard to government laws/regulations.  in other words, you’re telling the government “unless I’m hurting someone else and you have probable cause to restrict my rights, just leave me alone!” 

Too often, though, people hear “leave me alone” as a call to become a hermit.  That couldn’t be furthest from the truth.  It’s not a means to become a hermit but rather to be free to interact with others however you want (socialize, conduct trade, etc) without having a “permission slip” from government.  As long as we are “leaving others alone” (i.e. not harming them and interacting in a consensual manner) then government should leave us alone.

As I state at the end of the recording: true freedom and government are opposites and therefore cannot get along.  If the people in mass decide they want to be “just left alone” then government will decrease substantially and edge towards non-existence.  Government, on the other hand, wants to continually expand and get bigger.  It’s what it does.  It’s what it has to do in order to spread the belief of its importance.  Just like a business it has to continue to grow in size and importance or it is bound to head for inconsequentialism.

“Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.”

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to purchase at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!” – Patrick Henry

This is a quote that many have heard, but I believe few really take to heart.  I heard the quote “give me liberty or give me death” and chalked it up, as I imagine most do, to “wow those are powerful words from our forefathers to state the importance of liberty.”

But few people, I believe, really contemplate what these words mean.  Few people take them to heart.

In order to understand the full meaning of the quote, it’s imperative we look at the context which Patrick Henry spoke these words.  The Colonies of what would later become the United States were still under British rule and the decision was coming due: fight for freedom or bow to the King.  As we all know, the Revolutionary War was fought and won and the United States became a free nation.

But read again what Patrick Henry said.  He didn’t simply say “I want freedom” or “I’m willing to fight for liberty.”  He said either give me liberty or kill me.  He was not going to settle for anything less.

And what is liberty?

• autonomy: immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence
• freedom of choice; “liberty of opinion”; “liberty of worship”; “liberty–perfect liberty–to think or feel or do just as one pleases”; “at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes”
• personal freedom from servitude or confinement or oppression

Wow, there’s a lot involved with liberty.  It isn’t simply just freedom as most Americans see it: the ability to cruise around town in your car wherever and whenever you want; drink alcohol if you’re over 21; smoke cigarettes if you’re over 18; open a business as long as you pay the appropriate taxes and fees.

None of these are examples of liberty though.  The first one may be if it wasn’t for all the other restrictions added to driving: getting a drivers license, paying fees and taxes, limiting your driving to a particular speed, etc.  But the others are all things you are allowed to do with restrictions placed on you.  Not because you may harm others but because “it’s for your own good.”

“But we need all of those restrictions!” you might say.

To which Patrick Henry would reply: “I would rather die.”

Come again?  Patrick would rather die than bow to the government’s demands?

Yes.  And that’s exactly what we fought against the British for.  We fought for the unalienable rights of everyone to be recognized and respected by government.  This is not what we have in America anymore, and no doubt if Patrick was alive today he would be leading the march to give him liberty or death.

“Now come on, I think you’re overreacting” you’re probably saying.

Am I?  Look at what liberty is again.  The freedom to do as you please.  Freedom from servitude or slavery.

Government officials by definition are supposed to serve the people.  That is their only legitimate reason for existence. There’s only two possible scenarios: government is here to serve us or government is the master and the people serve it.

Which one is it in America?

Sadly it’s the same as everywhere else in the world: the people serve the government.  We pay taxes and fees to the government.  And in exchange we get horrible service.  So bad in fact that few people would pay for government if it wasn’t forced on them.