The State vs. the Individual

In human beings there is an inherent desire, want, need, for freedom. We are naturally attracted to the concept of “freedom”. Why is that? We are created in the “image and likeness” of God and according to Aquinas “freedom” is one of the attributes of God. We need freedom as a fish needs air in water to breathe. And like a fish out of water wanting to get back, a person who is caged in one fashion or another wants to rid himself of that cage, metaphorical or otherwise.

Over a recent dinner one of my sons brought up the aspect of government and the need for government. The question, or rather statement, that was brought into play was that we need government so that we can be free. I disagree with that statement. We need government to a lesser degree for order, i.e., driving down the right side of the street, ambulances being given the right of way, stop signs at cross streets, etc. Order is also necessary in society. But the more in the name of “order” that is either given or usurped by the hands of government the greater the chance that our freedoms will become less or even vanish. The total breakdown of freedom into totalitarianism has many examples through history, from Rome to Germany, the Soviet Union to Venezuela to Communist China. History is littered with societies, cultures, countries and peoples who have seen government consistently expand, gobbling up assets, money, land and most of all people with the end result of people being enslaved by the state.

The crux of our discussion came down to whom we should trust more in regards to the responsibility and cradle of freedom—the state or individuals. And where is and where should be that balance. Freedom cannot be separated from Truth. You cannot have a government stand long that talks about freedom of the individual when everyone, individually, is not protected by the same government. And government, by its very nature, once it begins denying an individual or a class of individuals protection from itself than it is just a matter of time before the remainder of that society will be in danger as well. With Nazi Germany it was the Jews that were under fire first, than Catholics, then Christians, and finally almost everyone who did not agree with the state. In the United States it is the unborn under assault with the elderly, through Obamacare, following. It’s a short jump from there to the marginalized which is anyone the state defines as not being enough of a contributing member to that state. And one thinks that will never happen? The state, in either its national form or local form is already trying to control us, especially the individual, more and more each day. Who would have thought ten years ago that California would want to ban fast food coupled when sold with toys. There is discussion to put a national tax on carbonated drinks because of the obesity problem in this country. Smoking will be outlawed soon on the University of Oregon’s campus. The individual and his or her freedoms as well as the ability to choose and the responsibility for those choices are quickly becoming obsolete by those who in some form represent the state. Wake up. If we are to trust something or someone to protect and maintain our freedoms it must first be we as individuals.