by Matt Barr

..as free as the wind blows

Sandefur updates the post I link to below and helpfully paraphrases me to be saying "the presumption is in favor of criminalizing, and exceptions must be justified out of that. Criminalization is the norm; liberty the exception; all is banned that is not permitted. Which is to say, no man is born free."

I suppose that's one way to put it, if your primary interest is distinguishing yourself from that kind of creepy approach. Glad I could help. I would personally though say that the presumption is in favor of self government. Sandefur digs that, so long as it's one person only. Once two (or maybe three) are involved, we must consult the U.S. constitution to be sure we can make whatever decision we have in mind.

Sandefur doesn't trust his fellow citizens to do anything but "criminalize" stuff. I don't like my neighbors, either, but think they're generally interested in remaining free themselves, and think we have a lot in common in that respect. The best assurance I have of this is actually not the penumbrae of the Bill of Rights, but rather the very fact that our most important decisions aren't dictated by a 215 year old document, nor even a 137 year old amendment thereto. The genius of the constitution isn't that it prohibits every damn fool thing busybodies can think of, but rather that it lets me cancel out the nearest busybody. You're free as the roaring tide -- so there's no need to hide!

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