Humans often acknowledge and appreciate freedom when it is absent or taken from them. Freedom is like a two-way traffic. Individuals have the freedom of, to act, and freedom from something. Freedom is the opportunity and space that someone has to make choices on issues of life, based on knowledge. It is the ability to desire something and experience it within the understanding and ambiance of morality. The experience of choice made by a free will determines freedom. And knowledge of the truth about the desire must accompany the decision, and the action carried out for the purpose of experience. Politicians distort truth that is essential in decision making (Walzer, 1973). Whatever is kept back in secrecy prevents individuals from "acting freely." This inhibition or limitation is because suspicion and lack of trust develop in the process. Any distortion of the truth will eventually affect the freedom or choice that is intended. If politicians act in the interest of the governed, they owe them the truth.
Thus, limitations on personal freedom to do and be free from certain things in life lie within the transparency in government and politicians. National Review (2016) noted that “Americans know our politicians lie to us. And yet we’re more loyal to politicians than we’ve been any time in recent history” (n.p). This statement supports Machiavellian stand of doing certain things to get and sustain power. Access to government information is a prohibited exercise. The freedom of information legislation precludes citizens from accessing some government files. The citizens who elected them do not have access to the data. The promises of tax cut turn out to be a tax increase. Vows to improve healthcare becomes a health system that is inaccessible to the poor. The cost of education makes it impossible for the poor to access quality education. The inability to obtain some of these things denies one the freedom to "act freely" under the context of lies, secrecy, deception and economic manipulation.
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Moral actions come from desires or choices that associate with the free will. The attachment of consequences for negative free actions is the boundary or limitation set by institutions. The making of legislations is evidence of the struggle for freedom and morality. One will prefer a government that is considered weak but morally sound. The reasons include the following; transparency in government, information accessibility, trust, reliability, stability in trades and markets, confidence from foreign investment, there will be no voter apathy and low turnout in elections, and an active civic responsibility under such a government. The definition of democracy is in theory not in practice. This dichotomy is a function of freedom and morality.
The counterpoints of a corrupt but powerful government are on achieving the ends of getting power and sustaining it through deceit. Machiavellian principles of leadership give this evidence. The world has evolved in technology, and people are more informed than during the period that he wrote his text. Furthermore, Machiavelli never denied the magnitude and importance of leaders acting with integrity and keeping their words. If it is praiseworthy, then it is either for the individual or the public. Doing it for the public benefit is better than for oneself. So, keeping one's word and leading with integrity is far more rewarding than deception and manipulation.
One of the skills that I have mastered in this class is the ability to think through a difficult text or subject in a very logical manner. This thinking is because of the liberal approach to the studies in class. I can now see the challenges of the early philosophers and how their reasoning has shaped our present thinking patterns and discourses. This objective and critical thinking skills with be useful in furthering academic studies and looking at life issues differently.
References
National Review. (2016). The Left Wins because It Fights Politics on the Field of Morality. Retrieved from http://www.nationalreview.com/article/439288/politics-morality-why-politicians-lie-us
Walzer, M. (1973). “Political Action: The Problem of Dirty Hands,” Philosophy & Public Affairs, vol. 2 , pp. 160-80.
