What is the Best Way to Find Freedom?

Freedom comes in many forms. Most times, people talk about the political type of freedom. A fine intellectual exercise indeed! However, it is only one type of freedom, and is also the most difficult to achieve considering the current intellectual state of the world. So, since trying to use the government to try to bring down the government does not ever work (this is just empirical...political libertarians have been fighting for less-no state for ages and the exact opposite has been achieved), I take a different approach.

The State, clearly, puts false moral obligations upon us. Before we take on the most powerful beast that uses force and false ethics to enslave us (the state), we must first attempt to free ourselves from those in our personal lives who attempt to enslave us through false moral obligations.

Seeing as I'm sure you have a great capacity for rationality if you are reading this (ie you've figured out how to trust your senses enough in order to read an article on freedom), then what an opportunity this is! It gives a perfect test for the question: "It is possible to change the minds of corrupt people from within their system, either of thought or government". This is important, because if it turns out to be impossible to do on such a small level (i.e. family, friends), then we know that is is infinitely more impossible with an institution that dwarfs that of our personal relationships in terms of its size and overall corruption.

If we do not first start with our personal relationships, then we are simply being foolhardy and non-empirical, jumping to the greatest possible threat without knowing whether our methodology is effective or not. A pharmacist who is testing a new medicine starts by testing small dosages and performing certain tests on mice and so forth. If the test fails on the mice, they do not bother to move on to the humans. If they did, they would be absolutely non-scientific and should be socially ostracized out of their profession for putting people at such risk.

Similarly, if we are incorrect about our methodology for bringing freedom to the world and go for it anyway, we further enmesh ourselves in falsehood and continue to live in an illusion. This will not free mankind, but further enslave us.

For me, I suggested that my parents go to therapy to help save the relationship. I told them how I felt and did my utmost to try and change the corruption in my family from within. I tried to fix relationships with corrupt friends. It lead me precisely nowhere. I took action. I attempted to learn the precise methodology for changing things, and when the methodology did not work, I removed my sanction of the corruption. I no longer speak to my parents or corrupt friends and instead keep my relationships limited only to those that bring me the utmost in joy and fulfillment. This has lead to a beautifully free and wonderful existence that is built on learning and happiness. This is what will free the world. Why? Because when people are free in their own lives the idea of a centralized coercive state because absolutely laughable.

Some suggest that my approach is simply talk and taking no action to bring freedom to the world. Is this true? No. I do, and the methodology I use is effective. Freedomain Radio, a philosophy website that advocates this approach to freedom, is only about 2 1/2 years old, and yet it has grown like wildfire from a few listeners to over 4 Million podcast downloads in one year (www.freedomainradio.com). This is evidence to the success of the methodology. Thus, starting with personal freedom spreads the ideas of freedom. Has political libertarianism worked? Not in the slightest. It has failed more completely that nearly any other political movement with any kind of following, because if fixing corruption from within on the smallest scale does not work, it will never work on the largest scale.

So if I do not support the libertarian candidate I do not take action? If I do not fight the state I do not take action? Nonsense! I take more effective action than those who take on the greatest beast will ever achieve, because there is no success by griping at the state. Instead, there is success in living with no un-chosen positive obligations and removing sanction from the corrupt. When enough people take on this wonderfully beautiful and free life, we'll have to stand back as the state collapses under the weight of our freedom.