The Historical Threat To Freedom

Published: January 9, 2020

America’s founders understood that the persistent and historical threat to freedom is the concentration of power, especially in the hands of the government. They wrote America’s Constitution in a manner that preserves individual freedom by limiting the government’s power. But too many people in modern times have forgotten the risk involved in giving the government more power and control over their lives.

Discussion Questions:

1. Is the federal government’s power benevolent, malevolent, or a mix of both?
2. What is the difference between negative and positive rights, and how does that relate to the powers granted to the government?

Additional resources:

• Watch “How to Stay Free” with Milton Friedman, available here.
• Read “The Perils of Executive Power” by Richard Epstein, available here.
• Read “Isaiah Berlin’s Many-Sided Concept of Liberty” by Peter Berkowitz, available here.