Reading time – 49 seconds . . .
For our absolutists . . .
You’re an absolutist and you believe fervently in individual liberty. You don’ need no stinking gub-mint messing with your life.
It seems that we have a national epidemic of “You can’t tell ME what to do!” causing uncontrolled inflammation of amygdalas (reptile brains) across America. We have gun owners going hyperbolic, declaring something testosterony about their guns and cold, dead hands and making it clear that the gub-mint can’t have their guns or tell them what to do. Never mind that President Obama, who has been vilified by Second Amendment enthusiasts since 2008, has never proposed anything that would limit lawful gun ownership. Obamacare has been lambasted for its intrusion into people’s lives, even as it doesn’t intrude. And recently Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced in the name of freedom that it is government over-reach to require food industry workers to wash their hands after using the bathroom. That seems to suggest a food workers motto, “Je suis ick.” And bon appétit to everyone at the lunch counter.
Those are just a few examples of the continuing drumbeat of imagined intrusions upon freedom and a response of, “You can’t tell ME what to do!”
As you, absolutist, go explosively red in the face and cross-eyed demanding your complete freedom, it’s critical that you understand that the harsh truth is that your complete freedom stops at the tip of my nose. Go ahead and own your Glock – it just better not affect me or mine. Go ahead and refuse to buy healthcare insurance. Just don’t come whining to me about the bill you get from the emergency room, because that’s on you, buddy. Pay up. I suggest that you spend a little less time demanding what is not yours – absolute freedom – and a lot more time honoring your responsibilities.
Like getting your kids vaccinated both to protect them and so they don’t infect my kids. Yes, you have a right to stupidly leave your kids at risk. What you don’t have a right to do is to put my kids at risk. It’s that tip of the nose thing. Try being responsible this time instead of having another temper tantrum about your absolute freedom.
There. Is that absolute enough for the absolutists?
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Ed. note: There is much in America that needs fixing and we are on a path to continually fail to make things better. It is my goal to make a difference – perhaps to be a catalyst for things to get better. That is the reason for these posts. To accomplish the goal requires reaching many thousands of people and a robust dialogue. Please help by offering your comments, as well as by passing this along and encouraging others to subscribe and do the same. Thanks. JA
Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
Reproduction and sharing are encouraged, providing proper attribution is given.
2 Responses to Your Freedom
dominick February 4, 2015
Unfortunately, the children of our poorly educated adults are paying the price for their fear-based ignorance. If only the guns that are accidently discharged or poor healthcare decisions would just affect themselves, instead of their offspring and other innocent bystanders. However, we may not fully understand all the processes of evolution – ignoramuses electing ignoramuses to tell them what to do may just be a natural way for thinning out herds. We just need to be as vigilant as possible to avoid the collateral damage.
Jim Altschuler February 4, 2015
You betcha! I feel absolutely assuaged, being assured that I don’t have to worry about having my rights and those of my kids and grand kids impinged by some dingbat who is only concerned about his “rights” and his own family.
Just think how crazy the world would be if everyone actually considered the next person and their rights as well as there own! Utter insanity!