Freedom isn’t free.
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This frequently quoted aphorism isn’t true. Freedom is free. That’s the whole point of freedom. Any libertarian will tell you that.
Security isn’t free. Consumption isn’t free. And taking away other people’s freedom can be horrendously expensive—particularly when it involves occupying other countries. But freedom is something we just have. Securing freedom might be costly, but don’t blame freedom for that. Blame the people who take issue with other people’s freedom.
“Freedom isn’t free” is sort of like saying “love isn’t free.” Sure, gifts can be expensive—but gifts aren’t love. Divorce can be expensive—but that’s going to happen when something else gets in the way of love. But we don’t blame love itself when we’re bad at love or decide we need to express our love through costly symbols. Let’s not blame freedom either.
