Freedom & Liberty As Defined by Ayn Rand & Lying Lester

What is "Freedom" according to the great philosopher Ayn Rand? What is the basic, the essential, the crucial principle that differentiates freedom from slavery? It is the principle of voluntary action versus physical coercion or compulsion.

Freedom, in a political context, has only one meaning: the absence of physical coercion. The most essential component of freedom, according to Rand and according to myself, is to be free from the burden of taxation. In that respect the ONLY way complete freedom can be achieved is through anarchy (no government).

But of course SOME government is needed to enforce contracts (legal system), but also to keep people from stealing (police and military). The police are mainly needed to keep the Poors in line, and the military to stop other countries from stealing our land our resources. Beyond those core functions, however, the gOvernment should do little else. If we want to maximize Liberty, that is.

However, as we all know, our gOvernment does MUCH more (much of it unconstitutional). And, in order to pay for all the gOvernment spending (much of it wasteful), taxes must be high. And, who pays these high taxes? Those with the money of course. In that sense, America's wealthy class and Big Business constitute America's Persecuted Minority.

It is under sOcialism that these two minorities are shackled with the chains of slavery, bound in servitude to greedy power-hungry politicians and to the worthless parasitical Takers who vote for them... in return for goodies purchased via the "tax" money stolen from them by way of gOvernmental physical coercion.

What is "Liberty" according to the great philosopher Ayn Rand? Ayn Rand says Totalitarianism is collectivism. Collectivism means the subjugation of the individual to a group — whether to a race, class or state does not matter. Collectivism holds that man must be chained to collective action and collective thought for the sake of what is called "the common good".

That is why the so-called sOcial sAfety nEt MUST be shredded or done away with completely, as it diminishes freedom, erodes liberty, and is leading us down the road to enslavement (of the wealthy). And, as we all know, slavery is evil. Allow the Poors to die in the streets, Ayn Rand argues, and Lying Lester agrees. One should expect death when one refuses to work.

So, not only is this the right and Just course to take, it is the moral one, as it avoids enslaving the Makers to pay for the parasitical Takers to loaf (play video games on their big screen TVs while reclining in their easy chairs eating Cheetos and drinking Mountain Dew).

Although, when we stop paying for the Poors to loaf and those who still refuse to work start dying (in their homes and on the streets), the bodies must be disposed of in order that disease not be spread. In that case Lying Lester supports some kind of voluntary tax to employ people to collect the bodies and incinerate them. I suggest we get some other Poors to do the work for an extremely low wage.

Lying Lester would be OK with that, but only if the tax is voluntary. If nobody pays and disease sweeps though the country? Well, Lying Lester thinks the wealthy, being smarter than the rAbble will pay... voluntarily. Or some will, and hopefully it will be enough. If not, then surely many will perish, including some of the "good ones" (ie Rich Makers).

But if any Rich Makers (as well as worthless Poors) die? That is a price Lying Lester is willing to pay in order to maximize Freedom and Liberty and avoid the tyranny of cOllectivism. Lying Lester would even be willing to risk the destruction of our civilization. Surely some worthy Makers would survive in a bunker somewhere... and those Makers would enjoy the greatest Freedom and Liberty any Man has known in this country for quite some time.

Byline: This commentary concerning freedom and liberty was written by Lord Lying Lester: Man of Reason (AKA Lester Nation). Purveyor of freedom and liberty. LLIN-075.