For most of the world’s history, mankind lived under despots, feudalism, etc. Government ran everything, including people’s lives. Little real progress was made under such systems, as people were forced to maintain the current systems. The plow used thousands of years ago went essentially unaltered 500 years ago.
The Freedoms given in the Magna Carta opened the doors for mercantilism and a middle class. The brave who pushed back against a strong religious government were able to produce the ordinary man’s Bible. This year, we celebrate the King James’ version’s 400th anniversary. It came about because of the blood of good men, such as Tyndale. Talking with a priest in his day, he prophesied that if he had his desire, the average plow boy would know the Bible more than that priest. That prediction has come true millions of times, perhaps with its pinnacle in the life of the farm boy, Joseph Smith.
What an amazing thing it was for the 13 colonies to declare Independence against the world’s great Empire, upon which the sun never set. Yet freedom won over chains. Other revolutions followed, and still follow today, as people still seek for freedom. While many of those revolutions fail and collapse into anarchy or reemerge in another dictator, the desire for freedom still breathes in many hearts.
How is it, then, that we think large bureaucratic governments can ever be better than freedom to solve problems? Continue reading