What is Tyranny? What’s the Big Deal?

1. John Locke – what is the government for, and not for? Government is for –precisely– for securing your liberty. That’s it. Everything should be pursued through other means. (rational non-coercive means)
2. What is liberty? Liberty is the freedom to what you should be able to do, without getting permission from someone that doesn’t have authority over your ability to act within your own sphere.
3. What is tyranny?
4. The Historical Status Quo – Government Control of….everything
5. If Locke was right, then tyranny is the heart of bad government. (contrast short and long-term effects)
6. If Locke was right, then liberty is the heart of thriving humans and human society. (contrast short and long-term effects)

Important Facts to Bear in Mind

1. Evils aren’t always obviously painful (stealing from the rich is still theft)
2. Well-meaning people can be very wrong, on both moral issues and empirical issues
3. According to the relationship between Liberty and Government, the government’s PRIMARY job is to preserve your liberty. That is why it is a big deal.
4. Many of the ‘political promises’ for something good, do the opposite (big pharma, tax subsidies, monetary manipulations)
5. Children ask permission to do everything because they aren’t full-grown rational adults.

Critical Assumptions

1. You own yourself, your labor, and your property
2. Governments work for individuals and families (not the reverse)
3. Rational non-coercive means are MORALLY different than coercive means

Related Articles

• Introduction to the Thought of John Locke. – Great Thinkers
• John Locke: Natural Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property 
• Who is John Locke? – John Locke Foundation
• 5 Reasons You Should Be A Classical Liberal (American Conservative):
• What is a Good Citizen?

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