Surrendering Small Freedoms is a Slippery Slope to Tyranny

If you are a libertarian or conservative, you have no doubt had people ask why you make such a big deal out of “little” things like “common sense” government regulations or “necessary” curfews.  You constantly hear things like “Just wear the d—n mask” or “Stay safe.” After a long day, it’s understandable to wonder if you should just give in to get them off your back for a few blessed minutes.  Let me remind you why those “little” things are a big deal—and that no matter how much you capitulate, they will never leave you alone. Surrendering small freedoms is a slippery slope to tyranny.

Allowing the government to do to you something that is beyond constitutional limits on power is like granting an easement.  In property law, an easement does not even have to be written into a deed; It can exist just because you have allowed people to walk across your property for years without challenging them.

“A prescriptive easement is given when a property has been used freely and without contest for a specific period of time under the respective state’s laws.” (1)

If you let the government tell you when you must be home at night or what you must wear or whether you can meet for Bible study, you are in effect granting them an easement if you allow it long enough. 

When they cancel your church school, how can you object after you already let them cancel your worship service? Can you object to a 12-foot rule after you allowed a 6-foot rule?  Be aware how quickly freedom is lost, and how the enemies of freedom are never satisfied.

The little things are the big things.  A freedom once surrendered is the embryo of complete tyranny.   

Once tyrants gain a toehold, it takes enormous effort to win those freedoms back from them. The best strategy is to fight the “little” things as if they are a big deal—because they will become a big deal if unopposed.

By Kimberly Schimmel. Opinions are solely my own. To follow me or add me as a friend on Bigwigg, visit my Profile Page.

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1. Rocket Lawyer, What is an Easement?, https://www.rocketlawyer.com/article/what-is-an-easement-an-easement-definition-cb.rl , accessed July 5, 2020.

About the author: Kimberly Schimmel

Bible believer, constitution lover, knitter, tutor, grandmother, mother of 6