A quote from Heather Mac Donald, Capital is accumulated effort and innovation, the sum of human achievement and imagination. Its creationist the aim of civilization. But civilization is everywhere and at all times vulnerable to the darkest human impulses. Government exists to rein in those impulses so that the individual initiative can flourish. Americas founders understood the fragility of civil peace and the danger of the lustful, vengeful mob. (Reprinted by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College. May/June 2020)

The darkest human impulses are in need of the rule of law combined with a fair hearing and a determination of justice. Countries where this does not exist are places of anarchy, or places of dictatorship. Those seem to be two extremes. For an individual to flourish there needs to be freedom to pursue desires and dreams within boundaries of the rule of law. Without boundaries of decency and respect for the rights of one another and respect for people and the law no one will be free to be creative and develop individual initiative.

There are many countries that have a thumb on freedom. Some for religious reasons, some for political reasons, some for selfish reasons, and some for a variety of other reasons. When freedom to be a creative individual is held up as a good thing, usually people will surprise us with their creativity innovate, build and pursue a goal. In developing nations (we used to call them third world countries) infrastructure and economic systems are very primitive or nonexistent. Yet, when people are given freedom within the boundaries of laws that respect others and the property of others, they are amazingly entrepreneurial in working toward a better world for all.

The atmosphere or environment for society as a whole to be civil and for individuals to thrive is one that must include laws and moral boundaries that protect people and property and yet leave room for freedom and liberty. As Heather Mac Donald talks about the darkest human impulses, I am reminded of why we need laws and law enforcement.

Murder, stealing, rape, vandalism, disrespect of differing beliefs, of country, of other human beings, of private property, of the list could be long. Without confronting and reforming or removing from society those who would harm others, destroy private property and break laws, a society will be crippled and anarchy or authoritarianism (dictators) will reign to the detriment of freedom, liberty and justice for all.

In the United States we believe that all people are created equal. How true, it reflects what the Bible says about how we people are not inferior to one another or superior to one another. We also believe that all people are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

These truths must be protected from the darkest human impulses with laws and law enforcement and justice for all.

The environment in a nation determines if people will have the opportunity to flourish. Injustices need to be addressed and corrected within the boundaries of a due process of justice, respect for all people as equals, respect for private property and respect for all.

The ebb and flow of this process is what will make a nation great. Without it, a free and just society cannot exist.

Dallas Kurt Smith is a pastor (semi-retired) in Aitkin and Baxter.

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Freedom and justice for ALL | Other Opinions - Aitkin Independent Age