Hundreds of thousands have died for it. Billions have longed to feel its embrace. Hundreds of millions of taken it for granted. Liberty. The very word has sparked emotion in the patriot. The word has been used constantly in political discussions. The word has become meaningless. Yes, meaningless. The English word “liberty” has become nothing more than a key word used to line the speeches of politicians, and to create an atmosphere of patriotism. Most of those using the word do not understand what the word entails, nor the theory behind it. Yet the word is used it all the time. It is becoming the meaningless word, used to invoke meaningless passion.

What is liberty? What is the philosophical concept that our nation was founded upon? What is that idea that we pledge ourselves to in the Pledge of Allegiance? Is it the absence of all restriction? Total freedom? Anarchy? A fuzzy, warm feeling that you get on the Fourth of July? Of course, not. Thomas Jefferson explained the concept well:

“Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”

That is liberty. That is what the concept means. You can do what you may wish, whatever you may wish, as long as you do not violate the rights of others. Liberty includes being able have physical relationships with whoever you want, as long as it does not violate the rights of the other person. Liberty includes being able to get “high” in the privacy of your home, as long as you do not violate the rights of others. Liberty includes being able to watch any entertainment you wish, as long as you do not violate the rights of others. Liberty includes being able to refuse service to anyone you wish, as long as you do not violate the rights of others. Liberty includes the right to spend your money as you wish, as long as you do not violate the rights of liberty. Liberty includes being able to own any tool, as long as you do not violate the rights of others with it.

If one does not like these implications of liberty, and yet uses the word as though one does, then one has abandoned rationality and has embraced “sound-bite” politics. Sacrificing content for popularity. Truth for glory.

If one does not wish to see a nation where liberty is physically realized, then one should stop using the word, stop singing the songs, stop making the pledge, stop lying to the world. If one loves liberty, then one should, by all means, support it. If not, then he shouldn’t.

Now hold on. Am I saying that the above things are moral? That it’s okay to have romantic relationships with trees?* Am I saying that it’s okay to use illegal drugs? Am I saying that it’s okay to watch filthy movies? Heaven forbid. I’m a lifestyle conservative. I live a conservative life. I believe that homosexuality is disturbing, disgusting and immoral. I believe that doing drugs destroys the body we have been entrusted with. I believe that watching the filth in most movies is just asking to stumble.

But I refuse to make The Logical Leap. The Logical Leap that goes something like this:

1. Wow. That’s bad!

2. <logical leapingish sounds>

3. Anyone who does that should be locked in a cage with murderers, rapists and other right-infringing people.

I’ll be explaining the idea further in other columns. But let it suffice to say that: Simply because something is a sin doesn’t mean we should ban it, and punish the sinners with prison-time or fines. We’d all be in prison and bankrupt, if that were the case. There has to be another standard for determining when to punish.

This misunderstanding of the concept of liberty has been one of the single most important causes of the rise of big government. To every problem a man sees, there is an almost assured statement which reflects his political feelings: “There ought’a be a law!” There ought’a not be a law if that law violates liberty.

Do you support liberty?

*The author views illlegitimate romance between members of the same sex as being on par with having romantic relationships with trees. When it doesn’t make sense, it just doesn’t make sense.