Let's talk about freedom (02/27/20)

Let's talk about freedom.

This is a topic I've been mulling over for quite some time and, honestly, I have more questions than answers. So, in spite of the overall tone of this post, my questions are not meant to be rhetorical.

So, what is freedom? Are Americans free? Is it really freedom if you're doing something you were given permission to do? These are the questions I struggle with. I live in a country where I can go anywhere I want, I can work for anyone that will hire me, and I can hang out with whoever I want to. As I go about my life, there are very few times that I don't feel free.

On the flip side, I also live in a country where it is illegal to collect rain water, you get fined if you're not connected to city power, and other people get to decide how much of my paycheck I keep.

In 2014 I was staying with a friend in Downtown LA. I would always park on a street that had meters during the day and free at night. Then one day, I noticed these shiny new signs that read "No Parking 6PM - 8AM". All of a sudden, with no warning or explanation, I couldn't park there overnight. Who made that decision? Certainly not the residents.

That started raising questions that I've been pondering ever since. Like, when did we as a nation decide that tickets were a thing? Why does law enforcement have the authority to pull someone over for speeding and then say "you now owe us money"? Wouldn't the point system (which is already in place) be just as effective? You get enough points and you lose your license. That makes sense. Don't be a menace to society while drinking your juice in the hood. But to leave my car in a spot for too long and then owe the city $70? How are we ok with this?

It seems to me that the citizens of this nation have surrendered their responsibilities in exchange for comfort, and in so doing, have lost their power. Welcome to the Land of the Allowed and the Home of the Safe.

I love this country. I really do. Being a citizen affords me some amazing opportunities that I don't take for granted. I just can't help but wonder what it could be, and what we just take for granted.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I don't vote. It's a very intentional decision. I believe that this system is broken and I refuse to play into it. As long as the Reds and Blues talk about taxes like they're deciding how much we get to keep, as long as politicians pass laws without consulting those it affects, and as long as rights are treated as privilege, I will not vote for someone who is just going to continue operating under that system.

Let's look at a specific example. In January 2018, a law was put into effect in CA regarding AR-15 rifles. Prior to this law, AR-15s had to have a "bullet button", requiring a tool to release the magazine. This was to (in theory) make it harder to swap mags and minimize the number of casualties if someone were to use that rifle in a mass shooting. Now, after the law, as long as you remove the flash hider, forward grip, pistol grip, and collapsible stock, you don't have to use a bullet button any more. So, the exact same rifle and functionality, cosmetically altered, requires less safety. Now, you tell me with a straight face that this law is about saving lives, and yet, this is the government we serve.

I am not a revolutionary. I'm too busy making movies. But I'm also not a patriot. I've lived in many countries and spoken with many Americans just as disillusioned as I am. If there were another country with a better film industry, I would probably move there. I live in California because I'm chasing my dream, and now have many dear friends that I would miss if I left.

So, yes, I love this country for the opportunities and luxuries it affords me, but I am also saddened and frustrated by what we have become.