Individualism, private Property, Free Enterprise, Free Markets, Capitalism

The Third American Revolution

By Tom Deweese
Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The revolution of 1776 was not just an exercise by armed men seeking to overthrow their current government – as had been done so many times throughout history.

It wasn’t a desperate attempt to replace a bad king with a new one – backed by the usual hope that this time, this one would finally turn a kind, benevolent ear toward the pleas of the people.

Such revolutions had been fought for centuries. Up to 1776 none of them had resulted in the desired goals.

Always the newly installed despot learned quickly how to plunder the people, gain power and riches for themselves, while holding out the carrot – the promise of a better day.

Not until 1776 did a few scholarly men in a rural, backward, isolated land figure it out. They studied every possible style of government. They noted the pitfalls, the dangers, the traps that lead to tyranny. And they noted this fact: Freedom doesn’t just happen. It must first be understood. And then it must be planned, implemented and protected.

Today, based on that first American Revolution, every one of us talks about how we support the

principles of freedom. But what are those principles of freedom? And were did they come from?

The Principles of Freedom

It is little understood that our founding fathers didn’t just come up with an idea and start to sell it as a principle—the way Obama and the in crowd do today.

First of all, we must understand that principles are not legislated or invented. A principle exists and you are subject to it, whether or not you know it. Eventually that principle is discovered.

For example, for centuries men were ignorant of the laws of physics but they were subject to them nonetheless. Man couldn’t fly or fill two objects in the same space, no matter how hard he tried because the laws (or principles) of physics are fact, whether known or unknown.

The same is true with the principles of freedom. The basic principles of freedom are consistent with man’s nature and that’s why they work. When the principles of freedom are recognized and adhered to, there is prosperity, justice and happiness. When the principles have been ignored or rejected, men have suffered poverty, stagnation and political tyranny.

So to obtain freedom, it’s vital that we know what the principles are. There are three, actually. Individualism, private property, and free enterprise. They are all necessary for freedom to exist. Leave just one out, and freedom is eroded.

Individualism – your personal choices — the ability to pursue your own rational self interest. Choices like the religion you choose; the size home you build; the car you drive; the kind of spouse you select. In short, individualism is fulfilling a life of one’s own.

Private property. Your own body is the most important property you will ever own. The idea that someone else can control that is absurd, but there are many who seek to do so. Forced Vaccinations, for example.

So private property is not just land. It is your thoughts. Your possessions and the fruits of your labor. Without the right to own and dispose of the products of ones own life, the individual is dependent upon the State (or someone) for his very existence.

So, it is obvious that one can’t be individualistic without the ability to own and control private property. It can be argued that one can have no other rights without property rights. George Washington said “private property and freedom are inseparable.â€