Opus 2020-176: Post Independence Day Post

We need to change the name of the day.

Or maybe have another holiday with the new name.

I used to say we have it better than anywhere else.  I still think that is true but the gap is closing.  It is not closing because other countries are getting freer, but because we are losing our liberty wiggle room.

The popular conception of liberty is changing.  It used to be the opportunity to work as hard as we could and reap the benefits of our labor.  We were responsible for our own lives and accepted that it was up to us to take advantage of what was offered.  Then there is that other “R” word:  Risk.  We accepted that there were no guarantees.  We knew that the greater the risk the greater the reward.  We were only limited by our willingness to strive and the luck of the draw in skills and talent.  The role of the government was to keep the playing field level.

Now everyone thinks that life should be risk free and everyone, especially the snowflakes, should have everything life has to offer regardless of whether we earn it or not.  We think we deserve it.  We are special.  Our teachers told us so.  Everyone thinks it is the governments job to guarantee our security and lack of stress.  Based on the current response to the virus that would also include a guarantee that we not get sick or die.

I would like a day where we declared Independence for that kind of thinking.

Maybe we should call that day Unicorn Day.

homo unius libri