by Frederick Mann, 10/4/97
The Economic Means to Freedom is one among many strategies that any individual could follow to expand freedom. Nothing in this article should be regarded as a suggestion that other freedom strategies should be changed or abandoned.
I do, however, encourage those looking for better, more workable, and more profitable strategies, to consider the Economic Means to Freedom.
Three important factors make the Economic Means to Freedom attractive:
This article is mostly theory. Future articles will cover some of the specific steps you may be able to take to embark upon practicing the Economic Means to Freedom. This article does suggest a few steps to start with -- such as finding out more about the free-enterprise institutions mentioned below (by utilizing them you may be able to implement some aspects of the Economic Means to Freedom), and subscribing to the Advanced Freedom Solutions Mailing List -- click here to subscribe.
Microsoft basically sells software programs to make computers more efficient and effective and easier to use. We could call Microsoft's programs "computer success programs." At the time Microsoft was created its potential could have been measured by the difference between how successful computers were at that time compared to how successful they could become. There was a gap between what was and what could be. This gap represents potential. By utilizing this gap of potential, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and some of his associates became billionaires and top the list of the richest people in the world.
The "gap of potential" can also be called an "opportunity gap." In human affairs there is also a gap between what is and what could be. We suffer from "human failure programs" or "HFPs" (like coercive political systems!) that tend to keep many of us stuck at a low level -- if we allow them to! The gap between what is and what could or should be represents potential -- the opportunity gap. In human affairs generally, this potential is considerably greater than the potential that enabled Bill Gates to become the richest man in the world.
So, the first thing to appreciate is that there is this huge potential of the opportunity gap. Provide people with the means to bridge the opportunity gap, i.e., shift from where they are to where they should or could be, is the essence of the Economic Means to Freedom.
Of course, with a computer it's easy to delete an old program and install a new one. With humans it's much more difficult. We tend to love and identify with our programs (some obsolete), even if they no longer work very well.
Notice that it's largely because of the terrocrats (terrocrat = coercive political agent or terrorist bureaucrat) that we have the opportunity to take advantage of such an enormous opportunity gap. Through coercive control of "education" and other means, they load people with human failure programs (HFPs) -- such as "obedience to authority." In the absence of coercive political systems, there would be far less holding people down, and the opportunity gap would be considerably smaller!
Also notice that as terrocrats become more onerous and oppressive with their "laws and regulations," "taxes," property seizures, etc., the more they tend to expand the opportunity gap!
By "free enterprise" I mean an economic system characterized by (1) property ownership; and (2) voluntary exchange. In a free-enterprise system there are no "taxes" and no coercive terrocrat "regulations"; no one initiates force, fraud, or the threat of force to overwhelm the will of another; people are free to do whatever they like, provided they don't violate the rights of others -- basically the right to own property and to engage in voluntary exchange. Free enterprise is a "human success program" or "HSP." Coercion can be an HSP for those administering the coercion and some who benefit from the coercion, but is an HFP or human failure program for everyone else.
The greatest potential for providing people with the means to elevate themselves (in all respects) is in the free- enterprise sector, because this is where we enjoy the greatest freedom. One perspective of freedom is that it represents the range of positive options available to you. If you can find ways to operate with reasonable safety in the free-enterprise sector, you enjoy competitive advantages: no or few "taxes," no or few "regulations." (For most people it's not yet feasible to completely escape from the terrocrat and private sectors -- e.g., when I put gas in my car, I pay some taxes.)
The Internet makes it easier to shift assets, earnings, and economic activities into the free-enterprise sector. Of course, the Internet itself constitutes an enormous expansion of the free-enterprise sector.
Anthony L. Hargis & Co., 17220 Newhope St. #201, Fountain Valley, California [92708]; Tel. (714) 957-1375. Banking -- gold and dollar accounts; free-enterprise share exchange.
Natural Coin Exchange, 33838 SE Kelso Road, #2, PO Box 569, Boring, Oregon 97009; Tel. (503) 668-4941. Banking -- gold, silver, and dollar accounts.
Much more information on monetary and banking freedom can be found in an article called 'The Future of Money' at the Free-Market.Net website. I invite everyone interested in furthering the Economic Means to Freedom to help create and/or expand these and similar free-enterprise institutions.
A major consideration is that if you're stuck in the "official" systems and they collapse, you may be in such a hopeless situation that your very physical survival becomes a problem. Should such a collapse occur, you'll be much better off if you've been using alternative systems for some time, and you've got at least some of your assets in them.
We can think of a scale, spectrum, or continuum. At one extreme is being totally "in the system"; at the other extreme is being totally "outside the system." Each individual can calculate where on the scale he or she derives maximum benefit. And, of course, your life and affairs can be compartmentalized so certain assets and activities are "in the system," and others are "outside the system."
Practicing the Economic Means to Freedom enables you to focus on doing things you can control. In contrast to political strategies, your results don't depend on some terrocrats "changing the law" or a few million voters changing their minds. I'm not suggesting that anyone drop political strategies. I am suggesting that some people will be more successful, and more satisfied with the results they produce, and personally benefit more from those results more quickly, if they practice the Economic Means to Freedom.
Provided you can become successful in the free-enterprise sector, the benefits can be quick and significant. For starters, if you successfully exit a "tax system," it may be the equivalent of giving yourself a 25-35% pay raise!
By the way, my experience has been that in all the places I've lived during the past 25 years, I have found people in the private sector willing to pay someone like myself in the free-enterprise sector without any problems. It may involve registering your own company or setting up a trust. I've literally had no problems -- even with a giant American multinational company -- to set up the arrangements such that I operate in the free-enterprise sector. In fact, it's often beneficial to the company because it relieves them of obligations like withholding, a lot of admin, and they can easily get rid of me whenever they want to.
I find the sense of living free and prospering exhilarating! I have a strong "beat-the-system" streak and I certainly enjoy not having to kowtow to terrocrats -- and for more than two decades, never having even one penny "deducted" or "withheld" from my earnings!
Of course, there are risks involved. You have to be more careful what you say and do. You have to guard your back. For those who are risk-averse, the Economic Means to Freedom may be inappropriate. Possibly, you should follow other freedom strategies.
On the other hand, operating "outside the system" tends to reduce certain risks. People "in the system" report all kinds of information about themselves to the terrocrats. They are also reported on by their "employers," insurance companies, stock brokers, doctors, etc. So if you're "in the system," terrocrats tend to have lots of information they can use against you. In contrast, terrocrats often have very little information concerning people "outside the system."
As a starting point I suggest you subscribe to the Build Freedom and Advanced Freedom Solutions lists, and explore with others the best ways to implement the Economic Means to Freedom.
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