What was the Question?

I feel like I should explain what the question is that "freedom" is the answer to.

Well, I guess it's obvious that I think it is the answer to a lot of things. Primarily I'm talking about how governments operate (although we can scale it down to businesses and households too). When faced with a crisis of some sort (and boy, can people dream up some crises!), our federal government usually feels the need to "do something" about it...to "fix" it. The problem with that is that governments are almost 100% incapable of fixing anything. The need can come from lobbyist's pressure, pressure from the voters in some way, or -- I would bet -- often times it comes from the need to feel like they're doing something useful and important. I mean, they feel like they have a job to do, and without some problem to solve, what exactly are they supposed to do? (I'll conveniently leave out any kind of kick-backs, bribes, pork, etc. as that is another discussion entirely -- let's just pretend we have angels representing us for now.)

The kind of question that "more freedom" is the answer to, is when you're trying to solve a problem -- a problem involving people -- and you ask "what's the BEST way to handle this?" Now, the way MOST people respond to problems is to restrict freedom in some way. This doesn't just go for governments, this is pretty much human nature. This is also the reason the progressive line of thinking persists after it is proven NOT to work time, and time again. People forget the lessons, or more often they think "oh this time/situation is different" or whatever and that all the lessons of history don't apply. The thing is is that the lessons of the past DO apply.

You see, because although we've evolved in many ways as a species (arguably), we're really the same people that our ancestors were. The human condition doesn't change. That's why ancient philosophy and The Bible are still relevant. They will always be relevant. Yes, we've learned a lot over the last 10,000 years, but we still have all the same desires and fears, etc. (generally speaking). Besides, you don't have to go back that far to look for the lessons; go back 100 years, maybe 200 if you're still not convinced. They get repeated over and over again because the truth is this: The right answer is not always the answer you want to hear.