Freedom Flyer 16

The abuse of the individual, including children, and assaults on our environment by the unfettered industrial revolution in England, precluded activist governments, or big government, if you will.

Our humane treatment of the aged, the infirm, and the handicapped has been legislated. I shudder to think where we would be, in environmental and social terms, without interventionist governments. The Rockefeller and Carnegie era had government agents killing organizing miners who only asked for a living wage and a safe environment.

There is a balance between government intervention and a competitive, innovative free enterprise. Without government regulation we end up with monopolies, primarily concerned with the bottom line. It is encouraging to see the development of corporate consciences. However, I would be loath to trust free enterprise completely.

We have reached the limits of big government and funds to attack social problems. Creativity, in both the public and private sector, will be required for future progress.

Although I disagree with Mark Emery, Bechard and Plant in terms of their philosophy of the dominance of the individual, I value their opinions, which are important to prevent the potential tyranny of the state over the individual.

I would not relish the day where we could not have this debate. Individual freedom is very precious to me. However, I see at least some government intervention or regulation as necessary to protect the less fortunate or weaker members of our society.