Those of us proud of being Americans just celebrated our independence day. Each year on this date, we should try to see just how independent we are.
We are not free to deliver our own mail. We are not free to direct our own tax money to choose our own childrens’ education. In many areas, we are not free to drill our own wells or have our own septic tanks. We are not free to determine our maximum rate of taxation.
We are not free to buy our own medicine. We cannot drive paying passengers in our own bus. Often, we are not free to smoke. We cannot be free to buy drugs cheaply.
We are not free to invest our own Social Security money in the best way. We are not free to keep that money and live off the interest, passing the principle on to our children.
The only people who can celebrate Independence Day are those who are independent. Every year, we have less to celebrate.
As one opponent of the Revolutionary War said, “Am I better off being ruled by one tyrant three thousand miles away, or is it better to be ruled by three thousand tyrants one mile away?
