A Simple Truth, easily ignored

Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.

Albert Einstein

Much of what separates man from animals is that mankind lives for more than just survival. The creative spark within us has allowed the human race to advance from cave dwellers to moon walkers.

Consider the evolution of man from such humble beginnings to the technological and intellectual heights we have attained. Whether you believe that this transformation is the product of the divine breathe of God or some natural selection process the fact is that the human race long ago reached not only the front of the line in the food que, we are far and above all known life forms in our known universe.

So how did we get here? I'm no Einstein but I recognize one when he opines. Any objective analysis of history will show that the human race advances most quickly in direct proportion to the amount of liberty afforded the individual. A fairly easy example is the rise and fall of the Roman Empire.

The Roman Empire grew politically, economically, artistically, technologically and in every other definable manner due primarily to the freedoms and privileges afforded its citizens. As the Republic of Rome slowly but assuredly digressed into an ever increasing Empire of Rome, ruled less by the citizens and more and more by the self-proclaimed elitist ruling class, Rome disintegrated into a shell of its former magnificence and its once proud heritage. Much of what the Romans achieved was simply lost not just for generations but for centuries, to be found again once enlightenment was again allowed to flourish through increased individual liberty.

This individual liberty which brings forth enlightenment and advancement is  the inevitable result of the collapse of failed statist rule. A self appointed powering elite in one guise or another attempts through force or guile to impose a centralized command over the "less advanced intelects" around them. This always leads to a collapse of economic and social order followed by a revolution in one manner or another. This is true whether it be the Mayan Empire or the British Empire, ruling elites destroy the very thing they claim to process above their fellows, they destroy creativity and inspiration.

The greatest defense against this elitist insanity was brought forth ironically and fittingly enough by the ruling elites of their generation and their country, Our Founding Fathers. It is seldom recognized or commented on that the American Founding Fathers besides being remarkably intelligent men were in fact the elite men of their country, they were the Ruling Class of the colonies.

They, thus us, were blessed with two very important historical factors which led a ruling class to, as Thomas Jefferson put it "let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution..." . They were being ruled by an even more powerful ruling class and more important they recognized that their own success was a direct result of the freedoms distance from that other Ruling Class had afforded them.

In short our elitist Founding Fathers recognized what Einstein and any individual with an ounce of common sense and humility recognizes:

Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.