Comment by malandrew | Hacker News Reader

Comment by malandrew | Hacker News Reader

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> _without artificial restraints_

What constitutes an artificial restraint?

For classical liberals, that means being free from the constraint imposed by other individuals.

Today the definition of "restraints" is being expanded beyond the artificial to the point where everything is being declared a "human right" without any consideration for the fact that some of those things can only be provided by taking from someone else (resources and/or labor). Basically, more and more people feel that people should be free from natural restraints like the responsibility of having to provide for oneself (or at least trying to). But the rub is that the only way to free some people from those natural restraints is bondage of others to provide for them.

An artificial constraint is one that exists outside of your personal capability.

If you are capable of solving the toughest scientific or technical challenges, but you are prevented from doing so because of some attribute of your circumstance (your color, your gender, your age, your wealth level, your current job title, etc.), then you are being artificially restrained.

If you can solve the toughest challenge, but you choose not to because you would rather throw clay on a pottery wheel, then you are also free from constraints. (There are plenty of people that are practically forced into careers because they are technically capable, and because their elders believe that if one can, one should.)

Under this definition, how would you classify geography? Many people could contribute to America's top level countries but are not able to because of immigration policies.

Human made geographical boundaries (borders) are usually artificial, and they certainly can impact freedom of people on both sides. Unfortunately, solving immigration and creating "one world" is exceedingly difficult or even impossible - especially when most countries (including the US) still have enough corruption that they are internally broken without even considering pressure from immigration.

Taxation isn't bondage.

If I'm taxed at 100%, is it bondage?

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