A Liberty Test
by KrisAnne Hall, JD
To what degree of Liberty do we live in today?
A Liberty Test
1. If you have your own cow, can you legally milk your cow and sell it in your community without government permission, fee, or regulation?
2. If you bake bread, can you legally build a stand in your front yard and sell it in your community without government permission, fee, or regulation?
3. If you want to build a house, can you legally build it without government permission, fee, or regulation?
4. If you want to use your land, can you legally use your land however you choose without government permission, fee, or regulation?
5. If you have property that is rich in minerals, can you legally harvest those minerals without government permission, fee, or regulation?
6. If you want to sell your land, can you legally sell your land without government permission, fee, or regulation?
7. If you want to drive your car to a friends house, can you legally do that without government permission, fee, or regulation?
8. If you want to start a business, can you legally start a business without government permission, fee, or regulation?
9. If you want to have a child, can you legally have a child without government permission, fee, or regulation?
10. If you want to marry your spouse,will your marriage be legally recognized without government permission, fee, or regulation?
11. If you want to protect your family or your property, can you legally protect your family or your property without government permission, fee, or regulation?
12. Do you have real practical control over your government?
13. Do your elected politicians work for you and respond to your demands?
Score 5 points for every “No” answer:
1. more than 45 points: You live in a Kingdom.
2. 15-40 points: You are an indentured slave.
3. 5-15 Points: You are not a freeman.
4. 0 Points: Where do you live? I want to go there!
ANSWER KEY:
““That is not a just government, nor is property secure under it, where arbitrary restrictions, exemptions, and monopolies deny to part of its citizens that free use of their faculties, and free choice of their occupations…” James Madison
“…for if our trade may be taxed, why not our lands? Why not the produce of our lands and everything we possess or make use of? This we apprehend annihilates our charter right to govern and tax ourselves…If taxes are laid upon us in any shape without our having a legal representation where they are laid, are we not reduced from the character of free subjects to the miserable state of tributary slaves?” Samuel Adams
“If, from the more wretched parts of the old world, we look at those which are in an advanced stage of improvement we still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised to furnish new pretences for revenue and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey, and permits none to escape without a tribute…What at first was plunder, assumed the softer name of revenue…” Thomas Paine
“But if our Trade is to be curtailed in its most profitable Branches, & Burdens beyond all possible Bearing, laid upon that which is suffered to remain, we shall be so far from being able to take off the manufactures of Great Britain, that it will be scarce possible for us to earn our Bread…?” Samuel Adams
“He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.” Declaration of Independence
Simple question: Do you want to be free?
