This section is a mixture of random thoughts and short essays that I have written over the years that cover a variety of topics.
One thing that I would like to address before you go on is that although I believe that some sort of voluntary society would be the best way for humanity to live (as I noted in Part I), you will notice that I do at times speak of taxes, voting, and other “statist” issues. Statism (a government-controlled state society) is the system we have now, and until enough people understand that Statism is just systemized slavery, we may have to fight for as much freedom as we can within the system. I wish there were better alternatives, but for now, it is what it is.
Help Themselves
A growing attitude in America today is that those who work hard and are successful are expected to support those who, when their lives are analyzed, have put half of the time and effort into making themselves successful as their successful counterparts have. Yet many of these people expect to enjoy the same rewards and luxuries that those who are successful have worked so hard for.
In reality, most people’s success in life (or lack thereof) correlates directly with the amount of effort they’ve put forth. For example, I chose to get a job in high school while many of my friends chose not to; I had a car, they didn’t. I chose to study my books and do my homework; some didn’t—that was their choice. I chose not to get heavily involved in drugs or alcohol, even though those kinds of people were around. I chose to get a job that offered a health insurance plan; it was my number one priority upon graduating high school. Others have this opportunity as well; if they choose not to, so be it.
I celebrate that people have this kind of freedom. With freedom comes responsibility; what we choose to do with that responsibility is up to us as individuals.
I, for one, believe that America is more than generous with those who are below or around the poverty line. The taxpayers are doing their part to help them out and make their lives better. The question I have is, how much are they helping themselves?
Wealth Redistribution—A Parable
A hunter goes out every morning to hunt for a deer. For hours each day he sits in the woods in the cold and the snow but nothing comes along. Finally, after three weeks, he shoots a deer. He tags it, drags it to his truck, takes it home, hangs it, skins it, cuts it up, and packages it.
But then some people come along and say that they’re going to take half of his meat and give it to those who don’t have any. The deer hunter is confused.
“Why didn’t these people go out and get their own deer?” he asks. “What were they doing?”
“Well, they were sleeping, watching TV, playing Xbox, hanging out with their friends, etc, etc…”
“That’s not fair!” the deer hunter protests. “They didn’t put in any of the hard work that I put in. They didn’t sit in the cold and the snow and wait for days and weeks like I did. They chose not to. So why should I have to give them what I’ve worked so hard for?”
“That’s just what we have to do if we want everything to be fair,” the people reply. “Now give us your meat—it’s only right.”
Excerpted from Them and Us: A Philosophy of Freedom by Adam Soto
Mind / Purpose / Truth 