A family is a good microcosm of society. When children are first born they are totally dependent, and thus have no freedom. They are required to do everything and go everywhere their parents’ desire. They are forced to go to school, church, family functions, or any number of other activities. They don't have a choice. If the children remain dependent, living off of their parents, they also must remain under the rule of their parents. As children get older they begin to take more responsibility for themselves, and thus have more freedom. Likewise, in any society, people gain freedom to the degree that they accept responsibility. Freedom is not given, it is earned. Nor can freedom be taken from us, we avoid freedom when we refuse to grow up and take responsibility for ourselves. 

Immaturity causes bondage

There are several qualities that make children unfit for freedom, namely laziness, selfishness and an inability to apply rules to themselves. Laziness causes people to seek an advantage over another, and to try to get something-for-nothing. Selfishness doesn’t respect the rights of others. People who feel they are above the law trample on the rights of others. Many people die daily from people who believe the rules against driving while intoxicated don’t apply to them. Just as parents in a family make rules to protect the children, rulers need strong laws, stiff penalties, and lots of enforcement over an immature population. As laws are made to protect people from themselves or others, they become restrictive to all, thus relieving everyone of liberty. 

The free market

The rule of a free market must always be caveat emptor because every independent person will do his own research and make an informed decision before entering into a contract. Each takes responsibility to be sure there is a fair exchange of goods and services. They consider the needs of others in the process of filling their own needs. In fact, they will help others to get their needs filled. For example, if they find that people need a better mouse trap they set about providing that. People then pay them for their work and all are benefited. Mature people possess the qualities of honesty and forgiveness. Each will keep his word, and if this is not possible then the other will forgive. Laws are only needed to enforce contracts and people remain free to make contracts of any sort, allowing progress in the culture and economy. Liberty is for the mature because freedom requires a moral population.   

Because they lack these morals the immature cannot abide a free economy. They seek an advantage over those with whom they trade, not a fair or even trade. They try to "get ahead" or to get something for nothing. They lie and steal to get what they want. Economic controls are needed to prevent abuses in an immature population. However, putting controls in the economy limits prosperity for all. 

The Justice system

All kings, oligarchs, aristocrats, and despots are the parents of a population of children. A family isn't a democracy, it is a kingdom. All families need to be kingdoms until the children are independent. As each child becomes independent, they earn freedom and a voice in their governance; but before that time, they must be under the strict rule of the parents. All too often, though, the parents are immature as well. They make arbitrary rules and apply them unequally. When this happens there is little hope for the children to learn justice.

When the people are self-seeking, a free society will dissolve into anarchy the way a kindergarten classroom breaks down when the teacher is gone. Eventually, a strong child who has the ability to hurt others will take over control for the purpose of getting what he wants -- power, control, or his own way. The Lord of the Flies is a poignant story about this effect. Thus, it isn't the king that is the problem; it is the people who are immature, selfish, and needy who desire a king to "protect" them. The king goes into the protection racket in order to exercise his will upon all. An arbitrary system of laws is indicative of an immature population, as well as the rulers.

THE REVOLUTION

We can worry all we want about the slide of these great United States of America into socialism, fascism, or despotism; we can talk about the sad state of our justice system; we can complain about Congress or the President meddling in our affairs. But the reality we must face is that our government only reflects the needs of the people. Where a free people take responsibility for themselves, there is no need for a paternalistic government, nor would it be tolerated. Just as grown and independent children would not tolerate their parents dictating their every move, an independent population would not tolerate a dictatorship of any kind. 

We can try to change the government, but that won't help. We will always end up with exactly what we need, according to the maturity level of the population. If we act like children, we will get a parental government. You can't impose freedom on a people anymore than you can let a classroom full of kindergartners fend for themselves. That would create anarchy, which is worse than despotism. We are quickly becoming a fascist state not because there is a coup seeking power, but rather because we, the people, want it. We want to be taken care of. We want to be protected. We want more laws to keep us "safe." We want to prevent all abuses. We want a "safety net." We want to prevent all injuries. We want justice for "them" and mercy for us. We want free medical care. We want subsidized goods and services. We want housing, jobs, and pensions. We want "them" to take responsibility. We want our failing company bailed-out. We want the "rich" to give us some of their riches. We want to retire. We want to play and not have to be responsible. We want "social justice." We want Workers Compensation. We want an FDA, CDC, ATF, DHS, FTC, FBI, HHS, CIA, DEA, NSA and all the bureaucratic alphabet soup that "protects" us from all harm. We want Social Security. In short, we want a powerful government to fill our needs and protect us from harm; and for this reason alone we cannot tolerate the rule of law and a Constitutional government. A parent cannot turn a young child loose in the street, that’s abandonment.

Our need, then, is not to change the government; rather it is to help the population to overcome laziness and become independent -- to grow up! We all need to become educated, moral, and responsible. Each should look for a fair exchange in all transactions. No mature person gambles, seeking something for nothing, nor would he take advantage of another's weakness. Each would be self-sustaining, never relying on government hand-outs or becoming dependent on the government for anything. We only earn the right to govern ourselves when the people are independent. In other words, it's not because the government is getting stronger that we lose freedom, but rather because the people are getting weaker.

What would independence require? The same thing a teenager does to become independent from his parents -- rebellion. We, the people, must grow up and be independent. We must govern ourselves. We must counsel our representatives; if they vote for growth and freedom, we should help them get re-elected. Also, we must refuse all government hand-outs, including medical care, tax "returns," social security, and all forms of welfare. This is the kind of revolt that would completely turn things around. We are a welfare state not because the government provides it, but rather because we accept it. Independent children refuse hand-outs from their parents. If we didn't accept any welfare we would be left with a free government. If we took responsibility for ourselves we wouldn't need laws to protect us from ourselves and others. 

Don’t look to others. You can begin now. Start the revolution: Revolt against paternalism! Grow up. Obey every law. Change bad laws. Be free. Be honest. Be kind. Avoid the courts as you would the flu. Be responsible. Don't seek or accept any government benefits. Be independent. Help others to grow up. This kind of grass-roots coup would change the world in a way that no war ever could. As it gains momentum it will spell the end of a fascist system and start another era of freedom and prosperity for all.