By Rai Chowdhary
Updated on July 3rd. 2020
freedom under challenge from an enemy you cannot see!
This independence day is like no other. The country (and much of the world) is reeling from the ravages of COVID-19 virus; it continues to threaten our way of life and the economy. The Fed and the leaders of the country are moving full steam ahead to stem the impact on jobs and business. Drug manufacturers are doing all they can to come up with therapeutics and vaccines, but as of now, it is hard to tell when a viable solution will be available. Meanwhile – morale swings from optimism to despair with the news of the day. Independence in these times has a new meaning – “riddance from the menace of COVID-19.”
Times like these pose more challenges for society, and create risk of internal strife. Societal fault lines can open up and lead to its dis-integration, ending up in civil wars or even the division of a country. Whether any country ends up in that predicament remains to be seen. However individual effort can play a big role in “preventing” such an extreme outcome.
individual freedoms and difficult times
If my actions get in your way, there is potential for conflict – especially if we believe we are free to act and do things our way without consideration of the impact on each other. Societies that are more open and free are fertile grounds for this happen. As such, individuals need to be more understanding and tolerant of others. This is hard to do when:
- people are conditioned to believe that one is above another
- there are significant inequalities in segments of society
- systems, norms, and regulations are lax or not enforced adequately, thereby promoting the above,
It must be understood that while a regulation can be legally enforced, it still can allow for inequality to get institutionalized. Then, how are we to avoid this? The answer and the power lies in the hands of the people of the society. However, they have to be enlightened and gain independence from paradigms that imprison them. Here are typical ones:
- my / our way is the best way
- I / we vs. them
- I / we know better
- if it does not affect me – why should I care
The sooner we realize that we are all connected, and that we are not immune from facing the impact of our own actions, the better off we will be.
Now on to the post from July 2017… see below.
How free* are you – take this Test…
- You can choose when to work, where, and have full control over your earnings Y / N
- The legal system is accessible, fair, and justice delivered in a reasonable time Y / N
- You have freedom of movement – internationally, and domestically Y / N
- Freedom of expression and freedom to access information exist Y / N
- You have the freedom to decide who will be your partner Y / N
- You have freedom to practice the religion of your choice Y / N
* Based on Human Freedom Index dimensions; for an exhaustive analysis, please use link provided
The more Y’s you selected, the higher the levels of freedom you enjoy.
Freedom – Fact, or Fiction
Since pursuit of happiness is common to all living species, and one attempts to find it regardless of their current state, it is common for people of a country / region to think they are free, and be satisfied with their status quo. Particularly if they have nothing else to compare with. All they know is what their government and other officials (including the media) have fed them, directly or through the media.
A research report – Human Freedom Index* provides more insights, and also indicates that economic freedom empowers individuals to exercise other freedoms – a concept I have long advocated. Interestingly enough the 2014 report shows the #1 country when it comes to the HFI is “Hong Kong,” and the world’s most powerful democracy – The USA ranks 23rd., behind Poland! Among the countries that make the bottom 10% of the list are: Libya, Yemen, Iran, Pakistan, and Chad.
So – enjoy Independence Day – but realize that freedom is not “free,” neither can it be taken for granted. For freedom to survive – democracy, responsible citizenry, and sensible choice have to be paramount in how society conducts itself. And, although you are part of society – how far you can go in shaping the future direction of your country (or company – on a smaller scale) will depend on your level of financial independence.
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