Progressive Freedom is Freedom from Reaility
Posted by JustinLesniewski 10 years, 8 months ago to Philosophy
In the linked article, Thom Hartmann writes:
"In her writings, which have become foundational for libertarian and modern Republican theology, author Ayn Rand suggested that the only purpose of government should be to promote “freedom” by preventing “oppression by force.” In her mind, having lived through the Russian Revolution, “force” was government goons with guns.
What she neglected to consider was all the “force” inherent in nature.
If you are hungry, there is the “force” of biology. If you’re homeless, you confront the “force” of wind and storms, ice and snow. If you’re sick, you confront the ravages and “force” of disease.
These were the forces that provoked the first governments. The first communities, clans, and tribes. The first nation-states"
"In her writings, which have become foundational for libertarian and modern Republican theology, author Ayn Rand suggested that the only purpose of government should be to promote “freedom” by preventing “oppression by force.” In her mind, having lived through the Russian Revolution, “force” was government goons with guns.
What she neglected to consider was all the “force” inherent in nature.
If you are hungry, there is the “force” of biology. If you’re homeless, you confront the “force” of wind and storms, ice and snow. If you’re sick, you confront the ravages and “force” of disease.
These were the forces that provoked the first governments. The first communities, clans, and tribes. The first nation-states"
I know the author is being honest when he wants freedom from nature, but he is under the impression that you can simply take it from others with little or no consequence. Freedom from nature comes from creating the things that free you from nature and trading those things for like value with others. Only free people, free from government oppression not free from nature, create that wealth that frees people from nature. His approach of simply taking it from those who have it, limits peoples way of thinking. That diminishes wealth creation. Taken far enough, need becomes greater than available wealth.... then most people become salves to nature and government. A vile predicament indeed.
I know everyone here already knows this, but I had to vent. -Cheers