Our Threatened Freedom

Is Death by Government Permission Only

Professor: Dr. R.J. Rushdoony

Subject: Political Studies

Lesson: 67-169

Genre: Conversation

Track: 067

Dictation Name: Vol. F - Part 02 - Is Death by Government Permission Only

Location/Venue: Unknown

Year: 1980’s – 1990’s

[Dr. Rushdoony] Is death by government permission only? This is R.J. Rushdoony with a report on our threatened freedom.

Recently a newsletter, ‘The Intellectual Activist’, spoke of the possibility of death by government permission only. What this periodical referred to was the fact that twelve states are considering legislation to restrict the freedom of businesses to close down. Before long, if such legislation is enacted, being broke or without customers will be no excuse. The details vary from state to state, but the proposals seek to protect the jobs of all employees. Such legislation raises some interesting questions. Why not make it illegal for tenants to move out and leave an apartment owner with empty units? Again, why not make it illegal for a car to need repairs for four years, and tires to wear out for so many miles of usage? If we can abolish, by law, the right to go broke, why not abolish the right to die? Can we extend man’s life expectancy by making it illegal to die before the age of 100 without a heavy fine? How about some legislation against droughts and floods, or against scorching heat? I’m almost afraid to suggest such nonsense, for fear someone will take me seriously. Legislators I know tell me of the sometimes far out measures which are put into the hopper.

In 1971, I was in the San Fernando Valley of California when the disastrous earthquake hit, on February 9, about 6 a.m. for a few days there were aftershocks which left people a bit nervous. Everywhere people spoke about the earthquake. The classic line came from a woman in a supermarket checkout line, whom I heard say, why doesn’t the government do something about it?

Our problem today is precisely that the government is doing something about almost everything, and doing it badly. We are treated as incompetents by federal officials and as stupid children in need of being controlled. Recently a very able business man went to an Internal Revenue Service office for an audit. After about two hours of treatment as a bad boy and an incompetent, he asked for a restroom break. He told me he was almost tempted to raise one or two fingers and ask, please teacher, can I go? Any time we are treated as anything less than responsible adults, our freedom is threatened. Children do need supervision, care and a certain amount of control, but adults need freedom to exercise their maturity. The whole foundation of Christianity and our form of civil government presupposes our responsibility and freedom. Moral choices are free choices. Freedom and responsibility are inseparable. The less freedom in a society, the less the responsibility.

This has been R.J. Rushdoony with a report on our threatened freedom.