When looking at the concept of freedom, we have to do so with the point of view that the traditional idea of freedom requires that someone must be put out for another to achieve or receive their own personal freedom. That’s how the democratic system works. Smoking is a good example of this.

In most countries smokers have the right to engage in their “hobby” knowing they have the freedom to do so. Those of us who do not smoke have to put up with the ghastly smell of smoke while a smoker expresses their freedom to light up.

The major down side to the freedom concept is in the lack on personal responsibility.

A Lack of Personal Responsibility and accountability for individual actions is where freedom takes a fall. Our society teaches us to avoid taking responsibility for our actions. For example, these days we can keep our No Claim Bonus even if the accident was our fault.

Individuals have the freedom, whether legally or not, to drop coins into slot machines, open their veins to drugs and consume excessive amounts of alcohol. When addiction sets in society must pay for the avoidance of individual personal responsibility.

As a society we should be given the freedom to do what’s right, in fact we shouldn’t be given the right to something we already possess. If our actions cause no inaction to others we should be able to express our autonomy within the bounds of governing law.

We do however need to be given less freedom to do what’s morally and ethically wrong. If our individual actions cause the loss of freedom to another individual, then we need to reconsider those selfish actions from the point of view of the person being put out.

We should have the freedom to be right and just. That doesn’t mean we should be free to be unjust.

The democratic system was set up to give individuals the right to express their individual freedom. There was no major emphasis put on doing what’s right by others. We have therefore grown into a society who grasps onto personal freedom but forget that our actions may be putting others out.

Zig Ziegler was quoted as saying… “We can have anything we want in life, simply by helping others get what they want…”

I think that sums up what this article is about.

Eric J. Smith