Liberty vs. Safety

Photo by Ruan Richard Rodrigues on Unsplash

A Saying From Colonial America

Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

I got some bad news for old Benjamin. If what he is saying is true, most humans do not deserve liberty under this formulation. People are willing to give up a lot for safety, and a much of it is sensible: driving licenses, building codes, pulling over to let an ambulance pass, lock up your guns, stop signs, fire codes, drive slowly near schools, licensing of plumbers and electricians, etc.

What would pure liberty look like? Imagine if all of the above weren’t in effect.

After the Boston Bombing at the Boston Marathon, residents were asked to stay indoors while police searched for the terrorists. People complied. Astonished cries came from so-called lovers of freedom who exclaimed that Americans have become passive sheep. Imagine listening to the police when they ask you to s…