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There is no rational alternative to liberty - all alternatives are irrational. Lots of people say they want freedom - the ability to run their own lives. It is human nature to want freedom.
Are you free ? - free as you think you are ?
"You own your life. To deny that you do implies someone has a higher claim to your life than you do. No other person or group of persons owns your life - nor do you own the lives of others."
The products of your time, energy and talents are given to others through voluntary exchange and mutual consent, and the results are better for both giver and receiver or the two would not agree to such an exchange. Any transfer of your own time, energy and talents through force or fraud - that is, without your consent - is theft, slavery, murder, or a combination thereof.
"You have the right to protect your own life, liberty, and justly acquired property from the forceful aggression of others."
You may ask others to help defend you and your own rights, but you do not have any right to initiate force against the life, liberty and property of others; therefore you have no right to designate anyone to initiate force against others on your behalf.
You have the right to follow someone else's leadership, but no right to impose rule or rulers on others. No matter how leaders or rulers are elected or appointed, they have no rights any higher than those of any other human beings. In other words, no "officials" have any right to murder, steal, or to enslave.
You cannot give anyone *rights* nor can any government give anyone *rights* - human rights are inherent in the individual at birth and cannot be taken away.
Since your life is your own, your life is your own responsibility. Your life cannot be owned, rented, or leased by anyone else, no matter what they tell you, even while you may voluntarily work for or give service to others, your life remains owned only by you.
Good people have empowered evil throughout history by asking other people to impose force on peoples and groups for them. If your personal vision and goals are worthy, intelligent people will recognize their value and may emulate them; if not, they will ignore you and hope you learn how to be a better human being. Artificially imposing one individual's will on another person results in unintended consequences and is not beneficial to either life or to a free society.
Adapted from the thoughts of Ken Schoolland with love to you all.
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Contributor's Note
Agree or disagree, I hope you will join our discussions.
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