Liberty is
philosophy that entranced several generations and was built around the concept of a social contract, a document that all
men would respect on common consent akin to a gentleman’s handshake agreement. The contract itself was designed to ensure the greatest amount of freedom for all mankind as
long as those bound by the contract respected and defended it.
Liberty itself demands certain aspects from a community in order for it to function, which are often mentioned in the tripartite motto, “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity”.
Liberty is based on egalitarian principles, not because it is simply a moral standard to adhere too, but is a logical necessity for the survival of liberty itself. In a situation where you have masters and slaves liberty is unable to survive because
people are
seen as inferior or superior and thus undermines the social contract by the natural abuse of such relationships. This eroding of liberty through authoritarian relationships then goes on to fight over the balance of power in
government as they attempt to control
government for the benefit of themselves at the expense of others.
The balance of power designed into the US constitution is based on the
philosophy of liberty in that neither the strong, nor the weak should harm one another but live together in
peace and use
government as a means of defending each others individual freedom to the utmost level.
One of the greatest lies of this age is that capitalism is liberty and necessary for liberty. This is incorrect, Liberty is the foundation of which trade and production can flourish with our without any ideological construct of capitalism. Liberty only works so
long as everyone treats one another with the golden rule of respect and the balance of power between all parties remains intact.
It is understood that in a society that respects liberty the strong have a duty to protect the weak, in order to maintain justice for all. A society that preys upon the weak will not
long have liberty or justice.
Within the bounds of the social contract it is the duty of all
people to defend that agreement with one another and protect each other’s freedom.
The
philosophy of liberty isn’t
pure freedom but based on attempt to move towards the greatest amount of freedom for individuals within a society. The contract is essential as it is designed in an attempt to balance respect of all individuals so that we have freedom for without it the tyranny of freedom reigns. When an individual has absolute freedom it becomes tyranny and results in the action of might makes right.
Capitalism didn’t make this country great, Liberty did!
When
people respect liberty there is no need to worry about capitalism, trade and production will take care of itself.
“Society in every state is a blessing, but
government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a
government, which we might expect in a country without
government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer.”, Thomas Paine in Common Sense
"An avidity to punish is always dangerous to liberty. It leads
men to stretch, to misinterpret, and to misapply even the best of laws. He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.", Thomas Paine and the First Principles of
Government
"A wise and frugal
government, which shall leave
men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good
government.", Thomas Jefferson
"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.", Thomas Jefferson
"It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others: or their case may, by change of circumstances, become his own.", Thomas Jefferson
"Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around
us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.", Thomas Jefferson
