Freedom and Liberty Defined

by: Rick Brainard
Today, the majority of Americans, and other citizens of democratic countries, take these principles of democracy for granted. In fact, these principles have been expanded and applied in every aspect of life.
"I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" - Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry uttered these immortal words in a speech before the Virginia Assembly on March 23, 1775. It was a rallying cry to the cause of freedom and liberty. Freedom and liberty are the underlying ideas of Democracy and the rights of the individual.
Concerning Human Understanding:
"By liberty, then, we can only mean a power of acting or not acting, according to the determinations of the will; this is, if we choose to remain at rest, we may; if we choose to move, we also may. Now this hypothetical liberty is universally allowed to belong to every one who is not a prisoner and in chains. Here, then, is no subject of dispute."-David Hume (Concerning Human Understanding)
Second Treatise on Government:
"The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but to have only the law of nature for his rule."- John Lock (Second Treatise on Government)
Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." - Declaration of Independence
Perhaps our "Governing Forces" ought to re-read the Declaration of Independence - We are certainly NOT free in this Country, our "unalienable rights" are violated every minute of every day. Note: All men are created equal (not some). This being said, why are we (American Government) always sticking our political noses where they don't belong? Could it be that the real agenda has nothing to do with what "We the People" want?

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