The movie Braveheart about William Wallace as a Freedom Fighter during oppressive landlord times in Scotland is a bit of fact and a bit of fiction. It depicts the oppressive nature of the Aristocrats who owned the land and treated the farmers and workers as chattel. We may not be duplicating that time period but we are, here in the USA and elsewhere, mimicking some of the worst of its offerings. I do believe there are those that would reinstitute drawing and quartering.
The Constitution and Bill of Rights recognize and codify Freedom as God Given and specifically NOT granted by man or governments. This was a somewhat new viewpoint in France and England when the big changes took place ie Magna Carta and The French Revolution. Yes, that was not that long ago. Christians have held for thousands of years that they answer to God. Other religions as well have taken that point. Freedom as found in Nations is a rather new system. How long it survives is certainly a valid question. Rome went bye bye so did ancient Greece. Both held ideals of rights and even Citizenship.It can happen here too.
Pragmatically, Freedom is a balance between those restrictions necessary to have a working society and personal choice to do as one pleases. It is said that one person's Freedom end where another person's Rights begin. Sensible thinking among civilized folks. Freedom is after all the power to decide and choose for oneself but with the caveat of not infringing on another's Freedom. When the vax issue became mandatory, choice was eliminated and therefor people were not Free to choose. In my mind, that is clearly against the US Constitution and Bill of Rights and complaints are valid if not absolutely correct. That it would even have to be argued in a court is a bad sign. Of course, when Freedom is restricted too harshly, revolts ensue and we are seeing some of that now in Canada. I like the truck convoy approach because it not only expresses discontent with an oppressive governance, but also reminds the aristocracy of the forgotten man's importance in society. No Truckers, no food. Pretty simple and by and large a peaceful protest without fires and destroying buildings, closing down businesses and etc. as seem last year. Sure, no one wants the roads blocked or commerce halted but come on, the powers that be shut down the world and locked up people in their homes, made kids wear masks when they are provably useless and so on, so who is causing more damage here.
Yes, I am writing through the lens of my opinions but I am a true believer that it is my Responsibility to at the very least observe what I see and comment upon it. Governments, especially the US Government over reached. Governors became little Mussolinis and we even had a Hitler or two creating a second class of human beings, later in the process all declared as terrorists. How long before they are stripped of their rights ...well, one could say that a select group already has been stripped sitting in a politically driven DC jail many without formal charges and certainly no swift justice. Pretty ugly stuff. If the January 6th events were an insurrection, we are doomed by its incompetents and inadequacies. As Biden likes to say, COME ON MAN!
I implore my clients to call the strikes and balls of the game as they see it. Try to make personal observations and voices opinions about what you observe. It is the Responsibility of all those who want Freedom to ensure its restrictions are kept in check and reasonable. Demand that elected officials represent your views not Pfizer's or some other lobbying interest. Opinions held inside do little, but opinions loudly voiced again and again shape the times.
If you want Freedom, take Responsibility for it. Otherwise, you might be traveling to Communist China without ever taking a step. And soon.
Best,
Donn Marier
DM-Your Own CFO