Are we really Free???

Growing up I was always told that we are the “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.”  Now I find myself asking the question…what is freedom?  Logically the first step in finding this out is to look up the definition of freedom. 

According to Dictionary.com freedom is:

1. the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint

2. exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

Well, it appears as of right now we are not under physical restraint or confinement…yet.  Though I wonder if someday I might be under physical restraint for doing write ups such as this. 

Now let’s look at whether we are under external control and also whether we are regulated.  The Federal Government regulates everything from our cars, buildings, agriculture, water, energy, food, roads, deep sea drilling, air traffic control, drugs, toys, television…I could go on forever.  For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department released proposed fuel economy requirements and reductions in tailpipe emissions for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, beginning with those sold in the 2014 model year and into the 2018 model year (http://www.latimes.com/sns-ap-us-trucks-fuel-efficiency,0,883241.story).  This was just announced on October 25^th.

The result of this legislation will be sacrificed crash safety results and an increase in cost to the consumers who purchase these trucks.  In a free market, if there was a demand for a truck with better gas mileage then companies would be producing them.  I’m sure we can build a truck that is capable of getting better gas mileage.  The only problem is that the increased cost to purchase this type of vehicle doesn’t make business sense.   For instance, a Ford F-350 gets roughly 11 miles to the gallon and costs about $40,000.  If the extra cost to get this vehicle to get 20 mpg costs another $20,000 then you would have to calculate if the truck will last long enough to save $20,000 in fuel costs.   As of right now, it still doesn’t make sense to spend the extra $20,000.

Now we have government riding in on their white horse to save the day.  If the free market won’t do it then the elites in government will “nudge” us in the direction they think we should go.  So we have these increased fuel efficiency standards on the horizon.  It is almost certain that these trucks will have to be built with cheaper/less durable materials which means they won’t hold up very well in a crash.  Typical of this administration, they are ok with increasing the number of fatal traffic collisions in order to push their climate change agenda.  I guess you can’t have a carbon footprint if you’re dead.  To them, the ends justify the means.

So the question remains…are we really free here in the United States?

The Answer is No.

Under the Patriot Act the government can look at our emails and listen to our phone calls without a warrant.  While I understand that radical Islam does pose a threat to the West, I would rather die free than live as a slave.  Lobbyists continue to push both the Democrats and Republicans to pass legislation that enables politically connected businesses to gain an unfair advantage over small business.  We have a Federal Reserve that controls interest rates, sending false signals to investors that there is a healthy supply of savings in the hands of consumers.  We have a government that can fine you for growing over a certain amount of a crop, even if it is intended to be consumed by the household that is growing it.   There are now regulators in new shower heads that limit the amount of water flow, and soon your standard light bulb will be regulated out of existence.

If this is freedom, then someone needs to update the definition on Dictionary.com.  We have slowly allowed the politicians to gradually take away our Liberties under the pretense of taking care of us.  Both Democrats and Republicans are to blame.  We have been complacent for too long, me included.  The November elections will be here in less than a week.  My prayer is that people will vote, whether Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent.  People need to pay attention, we must stay informed.  You may disagree with me and that's ok.  If you think Socialism, Marxism, or Communism is the answer, then let's have an open debate.  As George Washington said, "meet me on the battlefield of ideas."