Why is freedom good?

Here's a question Libertarians (myself included) take for granted far too often. Why IS freedom good? What about freedom makes it worthy as the basis for government?

 

Government doesnt expand freedoms.


It takes them away.

 

Why is freedom good? I would say it is good because it is consistent with one of the oldest and most widely-held ethical principles in the world, The Golden Rule. Thus, if you don't want to be coerced, don't coerce others. Live and let live. I think that the negative version of the Golden Rule espoused by Rabbi Hillel some decades before Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, is slightly better than the positive version. He said "Do not to others that which is hateful to you." With the positive version, if a person is a masochist, for example, he might beat up other people because he likes being beat up himself.

 

Because the inborn state of the human being is absolute freedom. And if you want to make some sort of government (government's not mandatory, remember those days?) it has to reflect inner dynamic of the human being. Freedom.

Unless you adhere to the philosophy which believes that men are evil savage beasts, and that it takes somebody to control them and pin them up. If that's the case then you do whatever Big Brother tells ya and soon you'll forget what the word even means.

Honestly, I don't think any real libertarian takes freedom for granted. The very basis for libertarianism is cherishing personal freedom.

 

I remember a cartoon where a bunch of cave people are sitting around a camp fire roasting meat under the stars, and one says "Do you think that future generations should have it this good?" Another answers, "No, let's start a government."

 

Why is freedom good? If you have to ask I think you have never experienced it.
That's sad.

Government's only true role is to provide for a society. The only society I wish to be a part of values individual freedoms.

 

Freedom is important because it forces you to rely only on yourself for your well being. When you can't choose the best way to live your life because of the government, etc. it takes away from relying on yourself for survival.

 

Freedom is a state of being. It doesn't force anything on anyone. Been listening to right handed radio on the health care debate haven't you? And don't really understand the definition of freedom. Too bad. It's your loss.

 

Freedom is not asking what profession makes the most money before deciding on your college major, but studying what you love and are interested in. Following your bliss.

Freedom is rolling in the grass on a sunny day.

Freedom is not wearing underwear if you don't feel like it.

Freedom is eating ice cream for breakfast if that's what you want.

Freedom is saying no when you know something is wrong in your heart.

And freedom is so much more than even that. Freedom is allowing yourself to be yourself. And respecting the right of others to be different.

 

The basis of libertarianism is that people should be able to live thier lives without the coercion or aggression of the government in all the ways that it tries to combat the sovereignty of the individual. Freedom in this way is improtant so you can act according to your own will without being held up by the power of others.

 

Why is freedom Good? Strange question.
Because having freedom makes people happy.Nobody WANTS to be a slave do they? Or locked up. Or have their every move directed by someone else. Anyhow, what special qualifications does the guy have who is telling you what to do? God status? Doubtful. He's only human like you. So why should you follow HIS orders? What makes him so special?
Yea, actually a sort of dumb question.

 

I wouldn't know why freedom is good; Ive never had freedom my whole life; I was born in 1986 .. born into slavery before I came out of the womb .. so I can't answer that question ... the only freedom I know is the one that isn't really freedom

 

Freedom is personal. It doesn't rule or impinge on others unless they want it. This is the importance of it. First, do no harm. Second, do as you will.

 

Why is delicious cake good? Because it tastes good and it doesn't make you sick unless you eat more of it than you can handle. It's easy to find, but sadly, most people hardly ever eat delicious cake. They just talk about how they want delicious cake, and they wish someone else would give it to them. But delicious cake is everywhere, absolutely free. You never have to take it from someone else. It's just there for you as soon as you decide to accept it.

It might even be in your pants. It feels really good there.

 

Also...no one ever really has to die for anyone's delicious cake. That's just a lie people tell other people so they can try to take all the delicious cake for themselves. That never works, though. It can't be hoarded.

It can be shared. That's always good.

 

I don't think it's a dumb question. The OP is just asking why libertarians believe that freedom is so important that it should be the basis of government. And I think it's improtant to be able to define what is so important about freedom that makes it logical to defend it.

And also, if we were to fail to prove why freedom is important, that it would force the many libertarians on this site to re-evaluate thier values, and perhaps change thier opinions.

 

Freedom is the the right to choose your path in life and make your own personal decisions. To experience and express without fear of being bullied or censored.

 

Freedom is for jerks.

 

Both Rove and Cheney found many of the libertarians easy pickings. The results of all this are on full display at the moment.

I think my one of my prior posts on this site was somewhat over ripe. Consistent Heavy drinking is for jerks

 

Consider two dogs:

One is feral, eats what it can find, avoids contact with humans, including vetrenarians, sleeps outside in the weather.

The other is a cared for pet; it eats what is delivered to it by the owner, gets regular vet visits and medicine to ease its pains, sleeps inside and gets scratched regularly.

Which dog had a better life?
Which dog is freer?

Why is freedom a good basis for human government?