Webster said it best:
Liberty - the quality or state of being free:a : the power to do as one pleases
b : freedom from physical restraint
c : freedom from arbitrary or despotic (see despot 1) control
d : the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges
e : the power of choice
Whenever I think about Liberty I am drawn to definitions c and e above. Free from arbitrary (read taxes) or despotic control. We in the U. S. do not consider ourselves under despotic control, at least not in the same fashion as in some other countries, such as North Korea, mainland China, Venezuela, Cuba , etc. Yet, think about it - are we free to opt out of social security? Are we free to decide whether we pay taxes or not? A resounding No. Is this not despotism? Why do we see so many tax assistance services? Because the tax system is so convoluted and incredibly complicated that it takes a whole company of lawyers to understand all the nuances. The tax system is way too complicated. This is symptomatic of a bigger issue: government itself. By definition, government continues to grow, never shrink!! It feeds on itself. A vicious, never-ending loop that only gets bigger and bigger and bigger!! The bigger it gets the more onerous, self-serving and even more control over every aspect of our lives. This is not Freedom. This is slavery.