The Alternative to Free Trade

Column for week of November 24, 2014

     We have considered what people want and some ways
of satisfying those wants.  We saw that everyone's ultimate
goal is to maximize their satisfaction.  When it comes to
satisfaction, we are all totally greedy.  We always make the
choice we believe will bring the most satisfaction. 

     Last time we considered how free people can pursue
satisfaction.  Now we will consider the alternative.

     The only alternative to freedom to choose is coercion
with force and threats.  Free people don't have to march to
anyone else's drum.  They are free to march to the beat of their
own drum, or any other drum they choose.

     The individual isn't free if he faces the threat of  "Do it
my way, or I will hurt you."  The threat may come from
bandits or government.   Being free means no more, and no
less, than being free from the threat of aggression by all others. 
To be truly free everyone must be free from the threats of
others.

     It may seem paradoxical that true freedom requires that
no one be free to commit aggression.  Aggression is initiating
or threatening the use of force, deceit or stealth against
peaceful people.  Free people are free to do anything they
choose, so long as they don't initiate force, deceit or stealth
against peaceful people.  The only justifications for the use of
force are prevention of aggression and the forcing of restitution
for harm caused by aggression.

     Free people aren't answerable to any commander.  Each
is his own commander.  His only obligation is to respect the
equal freedom of all others.  All interactions among individuals
are voluntary.  Considering that we all need the aid of others in
pursuit of our satisfaction, freedom leads to voluntary
interaction and cooperation.  Each party to an interaction
expects to increase his satisfaction through the interaction. 
There are no masters or slaves, and no losers.

     The only alternatives to freedom are coercion and
deceit.  Some individuals use force and threats of force to
coerce others to do the will of the dominator.  This creates a
world of "Do it my way, or I will hurt you."

     In our world we live with a mixture of free choice and
"Do it my way, or I will hurt you."  In some societies the
threats are dominant.  In others people enjoy substantial
amounts of freedom to choose.

     We saw that in free markets individuals gain the
cooperation of others by rewarding them.  The rewards may be
substantial sums of money, or as simple as a smile or a
greeting.  In freedom we gain the aid of others by aiding them. 
There are no losers.  No one is forced to sacrifice his
satisfaction to satisfy others.

     In the world of coercion some dominate others.  The
dominators can gain satisfaction without providing any
satisfaction in return.  Those who are exploited don't appreciate
this.  They are likely to seek ways to resist.  The dominators
are parasites.  They live off others while having no incentive to
produce anything for anyone.

     The world of domination is a world of strife and a low
level of productivity.  Think North Korea or Cuba.  The world
of domination by "Do it my way, or I will hurt you" is
inevitably a world of strife, poverty, and misery for most.

     In a world of freedom and free markets we won't
achieve utopia.  We will endlessly move toward more
satisfaction.  In the world of "Do it my way, or I will hurt you"
we will endlessly spiral down into strife, poverty and misery.

     I am not interested in the possibility that we might share
the strife, poverty and misery equally.  I prefer peace,
prosperity and satisfaction, even if some earn bigger scoops
than do others.

     Next time:  How can free individuals coordinate their
actions with each other?

aldmccallum@gmail.com
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Copyright 2014
Albert D. McCallum