Giving People as much Freedom as Possible

Society is best served by giving people as much freedom as possible. Describe a specific situation in which society might not be best served by giving people as much freedom as possible. Discuss what you think determines when society is best served by giving people as much freedom as possible. The year 2011 was marked by the mass protests and toppling of authoritarian leaders in the Middle East, commonly referred to as the Arab Spring. People belonging to diverse backgrounds rallied together to demonstrate against the repressive policies of leaders and lack of freedom in society. They demanded a more representative government that was accountable to the needs of the people and did not just serve the wishes of their family members and cronies. The people saw democratic institutions as a passageway for freedom and increased opportunities to thrive in society. Indeed, giving citizens freedom benefits society in profound ways, including the development of free, creative thinking and subsequent thriving of the economic sphere. When people experience broad-based freedoms, they are not afraid to express themselves. They do not fear for their family's safety when speaking about their true feelings and pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. Society gives them the space to reach their potential by exploring their interests through pursuing educational and professional interests. This freedom of thought allows societies to develop talent amongst the people and stimulate the economy through the vast amount of innovations and job creating opportunities. Those living in a repressive society must be sure that their feelings and ventures are in align with those of the government or those acting in power. Thus, the people do not feel free to run with new ideas that may threaten the status quo. In effect, their creativity is stifled and they also feel less empowered to improve their situations in life. By not belonging to the right family or political association, a talented individual cannot be nurtured to the full extent and is cut off from opportunities to reach his potential. For a society to work, however, freedom must be limited to an extent. The imposition of rules necessarily entails curtailing freedoms of individuals. Even a person in a free society cannot go about his day doing whatever he wants to with impunity. For example, if he drives recklessly, he will be fined by the police or put in jail. Working societies must establish rules that protect the welfare of the people, although this limit individual freedom. Indeed, a society allowing the total freedom will find itself in a state of anarchy. Societies that value basic, broad-based freedoms for their people must face a balancing act. That is, they must be able to maintain order and at the same time, still ensure that people experience freedom. A democracy is arguably the best government for accomplishing this goal. When representatives are popularly elected, they remain accountable to the people and help preserve their sense of freedom. An authoritarian leader, on the other hand, will be a poor judge for what constitutes freedom because he is , above all, interested in maintaining his hold of power at the expense of the welfare of the people.