Freedom and Responsibility

I have always considered myself to be somewhat of a “libertarian” and have always voted conservative. I have done this because I have strongly believed that people deserve to live free from excessive regulations from our government. At the same time, I have always believed that with our freedom comes an equal dose of responsibility. For every freedom we enjoy, there comes a level of responsibility that is equal to that freedom. During this pandemic, I have been saddened by the behavior of my fellow “conservative libertarians.” The ones getting all the attention are the ones who are refusing to accept the responsibility that comes with their freedom. The refusal to choose responsible behaviors in accordance with the freedoms we have, just baffles me.

Being free does not mean ignoring science. Being free does not mean ignoring the welfare of others. Being free does not mean that our actions do not have consequences. The biggest consequence of the collective irresponsibility of millions of liberty loving Americans just might become the loss of control of our government. You see, most people want a responsible government and over the last 9 months, most people just haven’t seen that! Not because our government has acted more irresponsibly than it normally does, but way too many citizens have forgotten that the freedom we have comes with an equal dose of responsibility. Our freedom is not a carte blanche approval for irresponsible behavior.

What does responsible behavior look like during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s very simple! Follow the protocols that have been suggested by the doctors and scientists. Wear a mask when in public. Stay away from large gatherings. Wash your hands frequently. If you are exposed to someone with the virus, quarantine yourself for 14 days or until you have tested negative using a reliable test. The old saying, “Freedom isn’t Free” has more meaning than the standard “Brave People died for Our Freedom.” It also means we do what it takes to maintain our freedom. And this doesn’t mean we kill those who would try to abridge our freedom. It means we accept the heavy dose of responsibility that goes hand-in-hand with our freedom.

It is probably too late to impact the 2020 election. But my hope for the future is that conservatives will learn from their mistakes. Unfettered freedom is not what we are about. We want the restraints we experience to be our own discipline not an externally imposed discipline. We want “Liberty and Justice for All!” Not Liberty without Responsibility!” Because of the mistakes we have made, there will be a price to pay. It will take us time to regain ground. I hope next time we don’t forget the Responsibility that goes with our Freedom!