This morning as I was responding to some Steemit comments on my blog, I came across a common argument, often made by statists and libertarians alike.
The argument goes like this:
"Of course X is immoral, but society is not ready to be without government now, so we'll have to wait."
The problem with this argument is obvious. What is immoral is immoral, and telling another individual that they must "wait until it is practical," or until "society is ready," to exercise their individual freedoms is a gross oversight of the obvious: individual self-ownership is about individual natural rights, and not collectivist comfort or societal "practicality."
The argument that we must wait until everyone is ready to be free, to be free, is tantamount to saying, hundreds of years ago during the times of black slavery: Oh yes, slavery is wrong! We should end it just as soon as we figure out who will pick the cotton!
This is, of course, patently ridiculous. Morality is primary and foundational. "Practicality" and "the crops" be damned, owning another human is wrong. See?
The practical end can sort itself out. The truth is that no human has any sort of right to tell me I must wait to be free.
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~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as DLive and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)
My live stream is at DLive
Highly rEsteemed!
Excellent!
The most free among us are those who are the most self-responsible. Those who flee to the State for their daily dose of teat sucking prefer the State's dominance and governance. They abdicate their sovereignty in exchange for safety and security and the herd-like mentality of the drone.
I find it interesting that many of those who tout the coming flood of higher consciousness sweeping across the globe have no idea that this actually means individuals must accept personal responsibility and freedom. Perhaps, just perhaps, they are right... higher consciousness is coming. I doubt, however, they understand the implications. It is far more that holding hands and singing Kumbayah. (How the hell do you spell that?) And How in the Hell did I get off on this tangent?
OH, well. Many blessings.
EXACTLY!!!!
I love this comment. More tangents here anytime!
May I share that I believe Steemit is far more than just a unique and fascinating blogging platform where one might make a little cash? I believe it is a place, a method, an opportunity to expand our understanding of Freedom and to promote and propel that understanding into the world. Freedom! There is so much more to that than simple freedom from the State.
Many blessings.
I agree.
for some people time will never come, and they are never ready for anything.
the reason is in people, not in circumstances. Always so.
Yes. This is so true. Thank you.
hopefully more will continue to recognize and abandon such a nonsensical belief, that we can't promote ideas of freedom.. until society is free 😂
My first reaction to the idea of having to wait until they're ready is that they never will be ready if we sit back and say nothing. If you don't enlighten people or give them some awareness, then they never will be ready.
Sorry, I haven't had chance to watch the video discussion. Flying visit.
It is absurd all this, that we must wait to have full freedom
Till we rebel and create a free system of anarchy, one small island then country at a time. Be free
"How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World" seems relevant here.
Fight the power!
It's the same old story - real change is hard.
And most people will choose an easy path while spouting an ideology that they will not actually employ in their lives...because it's like, hard , man.!
What can you do? ..Most revolutions involve sheep too..