Individual Freedom vs Planetary Survival

The planet can survive in many different forms; human beings can only survive if the planet provides what humans need.

It’s time we examined the cost of freedom and the type of freedom we want. Pixabay

There are certain tropes that annoy the hell out of me. Freedom is one of them. Specifically, I am talking about the American concept of freedom. In China, people feel free as well. They are free to walk about without fear of crime. In Africa, people also feel free. They can grow their own vegetables in their gardens and paint their houses any color they like — they don’t have to worry about housing associations. In Western Europe, they are free to go to college without fear of life long debt. And so it goes. There are two sorts of freedoms — freedom to do as one likes and freedom from fear. In America, it’s freedom to do as one likes while in most other countries it’s freedom from fear.

Freedom to do as one likes

When individuals are permitted to do exactly as they like, they can also, albeit inadvertantly, trample on the comfort and wellbeing of others. In addition, they can harm societal structures, plus, as we now know, harm the planet.

Having lived in many different countries, the only time I became aware of a limit on my freedom was in the States. Fear is a disease in a country…