Thread: Are We Incrementally Losing Our Freedom?

Originally Posted by MistressNomad

I think when it comes to things like health care, it is just another facet of why we prefer to live in civilized societies.

The government monitors the safety of our water, food, our electricity, our baseline education, etc etc etc...

They do this so that we don't have to spend all of our time worrying about basic survival, and we can instead dedicate our lives to pursuing what we desire to do, which not only serves to advance human discovery at a faster rate, but generally leads to a happier population.

There are those that would prefer to not live in, what you've been referring to as, 'civilized society'.(From reading what you've written I take your meaning of civilized society as; one in which physiological & safety needs have been met. If I have misinterpreted what you said I apologize.) Who may only want VERY minimal interference in their lives, and don't need, again your words, anyone monitoring/providing for their "survival needs". Their happiness comes from providing from themselves.

I cite Libertarians, while they may not be exactly as described above. As I understand it, they seek maximal freedom and very little if any government.

My point being, there two sides to every coin and plenty of middle ground; and the supposition "WE" probably isn't accurate vis-a-vis humanities view on any given topic. There are so many view points about what freedom is, I would think there is always going to be someone who feels their freedom is being infringed upon. For instance:

Personally I feel cheated by the fact I have to pay for public schools. My wife and I don't have children, we don't want any. I see myself having to pay for the -tongue in cheek humor- mistakes ( ok, most of them were probably planned) made by others. I realize I'm in the minority here, and disliking children probably earns me a seat on the wackjob bus. Even though I hate the little buggers, I wouldn't try and make anyone stop having children; that would infringe on your freedoms.

Could government work A la carte, that way everyone can participate in and reap the benefits of, only what they have paid into?