In a free country a person should be able to wake up in the morning and do as he chooses, so long as he is not injuring others. If a man wants to have twelve children, have no children, live as a hermit, throw a party, leave his lights on, build a palatial mansion, use a shower head with an unrestricted flow, agree to work for a pittance, buy a luxury boat, try to become a rock star, paint his house, start a business in his garage, lend money, borrow money, write philosophy, go back to school, start a political party, invent a new electronic device—he should be free to do so. Before the law intervenes there must be a compelling reason based on the harm it causes to others.
This article is an extract from the book ‘Principles of Good Government’ by Matthew Bransgrove
