Brett Ruiz

It’s been happening for a long time now. An ongoing force in western civilization has been quietly undoing the constant current of history in the direction of personal autonomy. For every gain that liberty made in the twentieth century it was accompanied by a subtle and backhanded shove backward; usually under the guise of more security or “true freedom”.

From post civil war reconstruction to early 20th century progressivism, the political ideals of the Enlightenment have been slowly replaced by notions of collectivism and unity. Just as the individual began tearing the chains off their body more were being shackled on. When the constitution was being ratified, slavery still existed and women could not vote; however the government was small and the individual’s adhesion to society was minimal. At the same time as we began recognizing the universality of liberty and freedom we were taking it away. Slavery was abolished and new taxes were levied. Women could vote but then the New Deal happened. The Civil Rights act was passed but then the Great Society movement happened.

We essentially went from having a few people with maximum freedom to all people having only moderate freedom, in the course of two hundred years.

What does this mean for the future of liberty? Can you engage in a certain activity? Activist judges have made that unclear. Can you open up a business? Maybe, if you can wade through the red tape. Can you afford to move your family into your dream home? Not with the kind of taxes you’ll pay.

So what is a person to do? Voting for McCain or Obama isn’t going to make any difference. McCain offers us constant war and a capricious disrespect for free markets. Obama would like to continue and expand the soon-to-be-insolvent social programs already wreaking moral hazard on the American psyche and pocketbook. Neither of the two seems to have any idea what kind of Political Philosophy this nation was founded on; or why that philosophy was unique and superior in human history. Bob Barr is a refreshing alternative even though he’s had his share of issues as well.

I suppose the answer is to be extremely active in local politics and to vote freedom first. But that’s not easy in a nation that worships the Cult of the Presidency.