Why do we object to freedom?
An invasive and coercive paternalistic state violates the American conception of a just society that ensures the freedom to choose how to design its future. By definition, an expanded government requires diminished liberty. Since the 1930’s, beginning, Americans began developing the perspective that public policy should undertake an extensive paternalistic role in society. Paternalism embodies the belief that people cannot be trusted to make good decisions, compelling government regulators to step in. Government regulations entail a transfer of authority, and decision-making from individuals to those in political power. Central to socialism is the belief that a person’s life does not belong to the individual, but rather that it belongs to the community or society. Accordingly, individuals have no rights of their own and must sacrifice for the “greater good” of society. An expanded socialist government carries the principle of double effect to evaluate the justification of an act. Government has the harmful double effect of reducing freedom. As government expands, our freedom is weakened. An intrusive, coercive paternalistic state violates the American conception of a just society as one in which the citizenry is assured the freedom to choose how to shape their own future unforced by government interference. When we support an expanded government, we are objecting to our freedom.