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My Master Tells Me I Am Free

Mick Stratton

mstratton@hlkn.tamu.edu




My master tells me I am free, but I am not. Freedom means I own my own body, soul and mind. Freedom means I can do, think and say whatever I want as long as I don’t physically harm others, or take of their property. My master tells me I am free, but I am not.


At one time my ancestors were free. But over time they gave up our freedom. My master knows this but still tells me I am free.


My master tells me I am free, though if I drive to the store without wearing a restraining device my master punishes me.


My master tells me that I have the right to not incriminate myself but if I insist on that right while driving, my master no longer allows me to drive. Still, my master tells me he is my servant and I am free.


If I decide I don’t want health insurance, my master punishes me. Yet my master tells me I am free.


My master tells me what mood altering drugs I can, or cannot take. This has little to do with science, it is only based on his feelings. Yet my master tells me he is my servant, and I am free.


I am not allowed to use medicine that my master has not approved, even if my doctor and I think it may help. If we do so, we will both be punished by my master, him telling us this is for my own good, because he knows better than us what I need. Yet my master tells me I am free.


My master takes money from me and spends it on things I wish not to spend it on. Yet my master tells me he is my servant and I am free.


My master has many rules I must obey, even if many of them make no sense. If I break one of these rules because I did not know it was a rule, my master still punishes me. Yet my master tells me I am free.


If I wish to start a business I have to get permission from my master. And of course, he tells me I must pay a fee. He gives me many rules to follow in my business, though many make no sense.  Yet my master tells me he is my servant and I am free.


If I have a business but desire not to serve certain customers, my master punishes me and threatens to close me down. Yet my master tells me I am free.


My master tells me I am innocent until proven guilty, but apparently my property is not. If he suspects that I may have committed a crime, he confiscates my property and will not give it back until I have proven, to his satisfaction, that I am innocent. Yet my master tells me he is my servant and I am free.


If I open a restaurant and decide to give my patrons the option of smoking or not, my master will punish me and may even close me down. Yet my master tells me I am free.


I am told I have the right to privacy though my master is allowed access to my privacy even if I disagree. However, if I expose my master’s privacy, he punishes me. He says he does all this for my protection and I should not question it. Still, my master tells me he is my servant, and I am free.


My master says he can lie to me, but I cannot lie to him or I will be punished. He does this for my safety and well being. Yet my master tells me I am free.


If I want to get married, I have to get permission from my master and pay him a fee. But my master says he is my servant, and I am free.


If my spouse and I wish to end our marriage, we need to get permission from him and pay him yet another fee. Still, my master tells me I am free.


My master tells me I have the right to defend myself and may carry a pistol to do so. But only after I have gotten his

permission. He will decide if I am worthy of being allowed to do this and most assuredly will make me pay a fee. Yet my master tells me he is my servant and I am free.


My master tells me I am responsible for my children, but if I don’t school them in the manner my master decrees he will punish me, even making me pay a fee. Still, my master tells me I am free.


My master tells me I can own property as long as I pay him each year. If times are bad, and I no longer am able to pay this annual fee, my master takes my property away from me. But my master tells me I am free.


Some agents of my master want to punish me for not agreeing to their science, or for saying things that offends them. Will my master eventually agree? This I know, if he does, he will still tell me he is my servant, and I am free.


I do wish to be free but many of my brothers and sisters prefer slavery to freedom as long as they are taken care of and protected from harm. Still, my master tells me I am free.


Will I and those of courage reclaim our freedom? Who knows? Long ago my ancestors and their neighbors did so, maybe we will do it again… truly making our master be our servant, and we will once more be free.


Who am I and who is my master? I think you know, but if you do not, here is to your enrichment; I am an American Citizen, and my master is the Government.

enough