Wednesday, April 12, 2023

A freer world worth a little pain

(My Eastern New Mexico News column for March 12, 2023)




Almost no one enjoys pain. Humans spend a lot of time, effort, and money avoiding it or trying to avoid it. Often, pain is unavoidable and sometimes it's necessary. Occasionally, pain leads to something better in the future.

When it works out, it's always worth it.

It might hurt to achieve a freer world. Getting rid of the obstacles to "liberty for all" will be unpopular with a lot of people. There are probably even some anti-liberty things you want to hold on to. They need to go. And it is going to hurt-- temporarily.

A freer world is worth it in the long run.

If you won't suffer a little pain now in order to improve your future situation, why would you ever go to a dentist? Why would you dig a splinter out of your finger? If you say it's because those things are causing pain now, but you don't realize all the pain violations of liberty are causing, you might be in denial.

Some of the things standing in the way of liberty can be replaced with better, voluntary alternatives. Others don't need to be replaced with anything. If you have a cancerous tumor removed you don't worry about what you'll put in its place. At least, not if you're smart.

If you could suffer a little today, knowing that because of this pain, you would be free tomorrow, would you? Or are you more like a slave who is afraid of what freedom might mean-- responsibility and uncertainty-- so you'll keep your chains? Not only your chains-- worse, you'll help forge the chains your children and grandchildren will be shackled with. All because you weren't willing to go through the pain of gaining unfettered liberty.

I respect the slaves who took the risk and fled from those who pretended to own them much more than those who accepted their condition. Even those who killed their supposed masters in order to escape were right to do so. Liberty is built on the pain of those willing to pay the price. And it is worth any price because liberty is more valuable than life. A life without liberty is worse than death.

If you've been brainwashed into accepting less liberty than is your human birthright, it's time to embrace the pain it will take to change the situation.

Are you willing? If not, why not? What are you so afraid of?
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Also, I was otherwise engaged last week and didn't repost that column in full like I was supposed to, so here it is.

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