Blog Post #3: Eight Values of Freedom

When reflecting on the Eight Values of Freedom, one that really resonated with me was the Marketplace of Ideas (Discovery of Truth). When written and was famously said, "The truth will ought." It is vital that all ideas and opinions are shared and listened to, even if people do not agree. It is up to us, the citizens of the US to pick what we choose to believe in and not have the government choose.

If the government were to interfere, this would be considered a market failure. One example that showcases the importance of this value would be how COVID was handled in the United States.

One of the leading causes for this mess was Dr. Fauci and his team of doctors who cared more about people listening to his opinion instead of trying to help people get better. Dr. Fauci and the Biden administration did not allow other medical professionals to talk to patients and the general public about getting early treatment for COVID.

They also hid the fact that the COVID vaccine caused abortions in pregnant women because he only cared about people taking the vaccine, not actually recovering from this virus. The Biden Administration discouraged discourse in the marketplace which, in return, left many people uneducated on how to properly take on this virus; unfortunately, many people died because of their actions.

This value of free expression continues to be extremely important in our society because we live in a democracy where we can share our different opinions without being reprimanded by our government. The Marketplace of Ideas allows everyone the ability to converse, debate, and decide their own beliefs. Even so, this could lead to reform in country because it can spark change, such as women getting the ability to vote, which started from protest.

Another important Value of Freedom is Check on Government Power. This includes the Federal, State, and Individual structure which is part of the checks and balances. We, as a society, need to take on that watch dog role and check our government when needed.

A huge part of this would be journalists who have a duty to share stories no matter the cost or backlash they receive. The press is not supposed to be an arm to the government but an adversary instead. In the past decade, journalists have catered to the ideas of the government instead of criticizing them for their mistakes which is the opposite of their duties.

If people do not check government power, at some point the government will become too powerful and the people will not have any influence. These two values go hand in hand because they both discuss the importance of freedom of speech and making sure people voice their opinions, even if it not the most popular belief. If US citizens continue to challenge the government, it will prevent censorship from taking over our country.