I was inspired by a quote and a few recent things to write a short essay concerning liberty in relation to the government. This seems like the best time to ask for thoughts and criticism on it, both literary, philosophical, and economic.
Any help is appreciated.
"Thats no law, thats just a sword. Happens I got one too"
There is much discussion of the proper size of government. The proper amount of freedom. How much liberty is good, and how much control is good. This questions of why control is needed, why government is needed, why taxes are needed, why regulations are needed, why bills like the Patriot Act are needed, why anything such as this is needed, are not on the table. People, for thousands of years, have lived with government. They have bickered over who's is the best, over what race is the best, over who is the strongest, over who gets what, but few have argued why government is needed. Government, by nature, must oppress. Government does not produce. It gives no benefit other then ill-founded confidence. It must steal, it must tax, it must divert, is must do everything it can to either trick or steal value from those governed. This should be extremely apparent to anyone looking at history or politics, but its as if one has lived ones whole life in a cave. You don't know how the cave got there, and you have no idea what other possibilities exist, other then a general fear of finding out. This is also not surprising given the nature of the government. The only thing that allows the government to exist is the consent of its victims. That it turns Anarchy into some monster, and its self into a holy guardian, is no surprise. Why do you have a right to your life? Because it is yours. Nobody has a higher claim to it. You have maintained it, you control it, you feed it, you direct it. It is, in every way, yours. Nobody has any claim that could justify taking that right from you. Therefore, because of this right, you have the right to the efforts of your life, your property. When you add your time, intellect, and effort into something, it is yours. It would not of been in existence unless you created it, and just as with your body and your life, you control it, maintain it, and such, either directly or indirectly. It is yours. To say it is not would require the first statement to be false. Having the right to ones life is nonsensical if you do not have the right to its work, and impractical, as one cannot survive if one cannot keep the food you gather. Finally, your liberty is again a product of your right to life. You have the highest claim to your life's direction and actions. Without control of your life and the freedom to act, you do not have the right to property or your life. Why do I discuss this? Simple; to illustrate the difference between an individual and the government.
Why rights does the government have? It is purely artificial. It violated others rights to get the things it created, then steals more to maintain it. What it holds is not its. What claim does it have to the land it controls? It saw it first. It did not change the land. It forced others to change it, then claimed the results. Does it maintain it? It steals and then pays people to maintain it, then claims the results. Every step it takes, it steals, and then claims that it could not of been were it not for the government. However, what special properties does government have? It was individuals that created buildings. It was individuals that has tamed the land. It is individuals that hold and create property. It is individuals that do anything. The government brings nothing new to the table. With this is mind, we must take a closer look at liberty. Many Americans have called themselves free. Why? There are thousands of pages of bills that arbitrarily declare what they may and may not do. A third of the income is taken every year directly to fund the states mad plans, and then even more indirectly through the savings-destroying effect of inflation. What exactly is it that Americans are free from? An individual does not stop being a slave if a single chain is broken, no matter how deluded he may become from his lessened bondage. He is still a slave. A claim to any portion of liberty or property is a claim on life. Freedom is indivisible. You are either a slave, or free. Forget what happens when a slave disobeys an order, and the evidence will be clear.