February 8, 2016 | Gunner Steele

If you're an American Citizen—YOU ARE NOT FREE!

That may be one of the most painful headlines I've ever written—and the reason why it hurts so bad is this—because it is true.

I love America. I love my country. I am grateful to God that I was born in this country. I am proud of my country's heritage. I still believe that America is the greatest country in the world (for now). But I'm also one of those people cursed with intellectual honesty—you know, that disease where you always force yourself to admit what is true—even if nobody wants to hear it?

Well, my friend, as much as I hate to admit it, American Citizens are not FREE. Not by any definition of the word "freedom."

What Does Freedom Even Mean?

The Declaration of Independence spells it out pretty easy for us—and in short, we Americans are supposed to be "FREE" to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. And while these words might make us want to stand up and shout for our country, and may instill a sense of reverence and pride in our being, are they even true anymore?

Lets take a look at some of the definitions of "freedom" from the Oxford Dictionary:

Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. So are you free to act, speak, or think as you want without hindrance or restraint? Was Dinesh D'souza free to act, speak, and think as he wanted when he gave "too much" of his own money to a Republican congressional candidate and went to jail for it? A wealthy Democrat did the same, boasted of it, and faced no consequences. Bill Ayers blew up the Pentagon and committed other heinous crimes and never served any time. Is this Freedom?

Freedom is the absence of subjection to domination or despotic government. (Despotism is the exercise of complete power). You are not allowed to carry your own money in the form of cash over $10,000. If you do, you can go to jail and have your money confiscated. Your government spies on your every move making Orson Welles 1984 look like child's play. You cannot so much as buy a light bulb for your home without government regulating it. Your food, medicine, education, and form of worship are all subject to government regulation. And so is your ability to speak freely about anything you choose. Don't believe me, then I dare you to do the following:

1. Invoke the name of Jesus in prayer in any public setting.
2. Have your minister encourage the congregation to vote for a specific candidate.
3. Write and publish a book describing the cure for cancer.
4. Open a medical clinic and offer life-saving cancer treatments (or other treatments).
5. Tell people that oranges will cure scurvy (they will) and try to sell oranges while advertising it as a cure for scurvy.
6. Don't take your kids to school for a few weeks.

We can debate about whether or not these things should be or should not, but that's not the question. The question is this—is this freedom? The answer is NO.

Freedom is the ability to act according to the dictates of one's own conscience without force or manipulation from government or other authorities. So were the owner's of the Oregon Bakery FREE when they refused to bake a cake for a lesbian couple for their wedding—something that they opposed and something that was contrary to their conscience? Were they FREE when the government forcefully took more than $100,000 from their bank account, including money set aside in their "tithing account" to give to God and religious charities? Were they FREE when they stood by helplessly as they watched this money taken from them forcefully and given to the lesbians who they "offended" by simply obeying their faith?

Obviously, I could write volumes full of anecdotes like this. But I don't have room you don't have the time.

Does this look like Freedom to You?

Let me give you another illustration. It is that time again where Americans by force of law, will have to file their tax returns. This is the rule that we have in America that says that we, as citizens, must tell our government every thing we’ve earned and everything we’ve spent our money on, and then give them a portion of our profits based on the rules that they’ve set up to extract our money from us. It's a form of legal plunder and it is all by force. Remember, FREEDOM is NOT FORCE.

So, like good sheep, we line up and turn over cumulatively over 50% of our earnings every year. That’s the figure once you add up all the taxes at all levels of government and include taxes that are inserted as fees like on gasoline and energy, and everything else.

Just to add some context to this, I want you to consider our founding fathers. You see, in 1776, there was no income tax. That didn’t come along until 1913, over 130 years later. And guess what, In 1776, the taxes imposed by the British on our forefathers were about 1% in the North, and maybe around 3% in the South. And you know what, they considered that to by tyrannical and ultimately fought a war over it.

Our Forefathers felt like they were NOT FREE when they paid 1% - 3% in taxes. You and I are paying over 50%. So are you FREE?

Freedom is Not Force

The most important lesson I want you to remember today is this—Freedom is Not Force. Force is the opposite of Freedom.

• When you are forced to send your kids to government schools that is not Freedom.
• When you are forced to keep your mouth closed for fear of jailtime, or other civil consequences, that is not Freedom.
• When you are disallowed by force from using your own money to support candidates you believe in, that is not Freedom.
• When you must flee to Latin America for life-saving medical treatments because they are forcefully disallowed in the "land of the Free," that is not Freedom.

You get the point. We are not FREE in America anymore. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Don't hate me because I told you the truth.

So my question to you now is this—what are you going to do about it?

Until Monday, I'm yours in Freedom,
Gunner Steele
The Freedom Man