by – L. Richardson
Our freedom of association is not just under threat, it’s under siege. The consequences are dire, and the time for action is now. As cancel culture tightens its grip on society, Americans face an unprecedented assault on their liberty to choose whom they interact with. This foundational right, intrinsically tied to property rights and individual autonomy, has become a battleground where globalists and liberal elites attempt to control who we can associate with.
This article delves into the insidious role of cancel culture as a weapon against dissent. It explores how antidiscrimination laws and diversity mandates violate freedom of choice and its impact on Confederate history. Additionally, it delves into how taxation and activist control threaten liberty. By exposing the DEI hoax and rejecting state-enforced diversity, this piece calls for action to defend the cornerstones of American freedom against those who seek to destroy it under the guise of civil rights.
The Principle of Freedom of Association
Freedom of association is not just a principle; it’s a cornerstone of liberty deeply rooted in self-ownership and property rights. This fundamental principle asserts that individuals can choose their associations voluntarily, free from coercion or external control. It’s a bulwark against the tyranny of forced association, which threatens to turn us into slaves of cancel culture and globalist agendas.
Voluntary human interaction is the bedrock of a free society. Unless we want to live in chains, we must fiercely defend our right to associate or dissociate as we see fit. This freedom is not just a legal construct but an ethical imperative. The correct ethical principle is that no one should be forced to associate or not associate with others against their will. This absolute freedom is inextricably tied to property rights and self-ownership.
Murray Rothbard, a champion of libertarian thought, viewed freedom of association as a subset of private property rights. He argued that this freedom is absolute, limited only by the same respect we give to others’ property and freedom. Rothbard’s philosophy of freedom rests on the simple yet profound insight that slavery is wrong: 1. This rejection of slavery leads inexorably to the conclusion that each person owns their own body and, by extension, their labor and the fruits of that labor.
The implications of this principle are far-reaching. It means that forced association, whether through antidiscrimination laws or diversity mandates, violates our fundamental right to choose. The liberal elites’ twisted antidiscrimination framework is nothing more than a tool for globalist control, forcing people into associations that violate their principles and values.
To defend our liberty, we must stand against the cancel culture mob and any form of government tyranny that seeks to control our lives. We, as individuals, must reject state-enforced diversity and expose the DEI hoax for what it is – a weapon against our freedom of association. Only by fiercely guarding our right to choose can we hope to preserve the cornerstones of American liberty and resist becoming slaves to the system.
How Antidiscrimination Violates Freedom of Association
Once hailed as a tool for equality, the antidiscrimination principle has become a weapon against true freedom of choice. This twisted framework, pushed by liberal elites, is turning us into slaves to a system that violates our fundamental right to associate freely.
Coercion in Employment:
Forcing racial and gender quotas under the guise of “disparate impact” undermines the freedom of employers to associate with whom they choose.
Employers are now shackled by quotas and diversity mandates that force them to hire based on arbitrary characteristics rather than merit. While well-intentioned, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 opened the door to this tyranny by prohibiting discrimination in a colorblind fashion 1. This has led to the expansion of disparate impact theory, which renders illegal standard testing methods whenever they yield different outcomes for protected groups 1. As a result, employers are forced to rely on inferior information when making hiring decisions, all in the name of “equity.”
Restrictions in Housing:
The Fair Housing Act forbids landlords from choosing their tenants, infringing on their property rights and freedom of choice.
The Fair Housing Act has become another tool for globalist control, stripping property owners of their right to choose who lives in their buildings. This law prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, and other protected characteristics 2 [4]. While it may sound noble, it’s a direct assault on freedom of association and property rights – the cornerstones of liberty!
New Liberal Justifications:
Today’s antidiscrimination laws no longer break down barriers; instead, they’re used to push DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) values onto everyone.
The DEI hoax has become the latest weapon in the arsenal of those seeking to destroy our freedom of association. Universities and corporations now require diversity statements, training, and surveys 3. These initiatives are nothing more than politically influenced litmus tests designed to force compliance with a globalist agenda that seeks to control who we can associate with. It’s time to reject state-enforced diversity and defend our right to choose!
The Cancel Culture Weapon
Cancel culture has become a powerful tool for enforcing compliance with liberal ‘shared values’ and silence dissent. This weapon of social control, often influenced by globalist agendas, threatens our fundamental freedom of association, turning us into slaves to a globalist agenda that seeks to dictate who we can associate with.
DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) language has become the rallying cry of cancel culture mobs. These initiatives are often nothing more than politically influenced litmus tests designed to force compliance with a liberal worldview. Nearly 6 in 10 Americans feel that our nation’s democracy is threatened because people are afraid to voice their opinions 1 [5]. This chilling effect on free speech is natural and has an alarming impact on how Americans communicate.
If you dare to reject these so-called “shared values,” the cancel mob will come for you with a vengeance. But they have no right to dictate who you associate with! Freedom of association is an absolute right, not conditional on proving that the mob’s reasons for cancelation are wrong. It’s tied to your property rights and self-ownership. You have the right to decide who you engage with, and nobody should be able to force you into associations you reject.
The consequences of cancel culture can be severe. Many people, from public figures to ordinary citizens, have experienced significant career impacts and lost jobs and contracts due to online attacks that spilled into the real world. Even when the initial storm passes, there are often future recurrences when the attacks resume. This creates a climate of fear where people are afraid to speak their minds or associate freely.
We must stand firm against this assault on our liberty. Reject state-enforced diversity and expose the DEI hoax for what it is – a weapon against your freedom of association! Don’t let the cancel culture mob turn you into a slave to their agenda. Defend your right to choose who you associate with or live as slaves to a tyrannical system that seeks to control every aspect of our lives.
Confederate History and Cancel Culture’s Latest Target
The ongoing battle over Confederate monuments has become a flashpoint in the war against freedom of association. Cancel culture’s latest target is the Marvel Museum in Georgetown, Delaware, where a Confederate flag flies as part of a memorial to Delawareans who fought for the Confederacy. This controversy highlights the agenda to erase history and control the narrative.
The Georgetown Historical Society has refused to take down the flag, stating its intention to honor its commitment to the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), who installed the monument in 2007 1. However, pressure is mounting from civil rights organizations and concerned citizens who argue that public funding should be withheld unless the flag is removed.
The NAACP has long opposed public funds supporting Confederate history, calling it an affront to the “sensibilities” of the majority 2. However, surveys show Americans are split on this issue. The debate isn’t about whether people agree with Confederate symbols but whether they have the right to associate with that history or not. This is what freedom is about!
The Marvel Museum controversy exemplifies the broader assault on freedom of association. By attempting to force the removal of Confederate symbols, cancel culture seeks to dictate who we can associate with and what parts of history we’re allowed to acknowledge. This tyrannical approach threatens the very foundations of liberty.
True freedom of association means defending the right of individuals and organizations to make their own choices about historical symbols and memorials, even if we disagree with those choices. The alternative is to live as slaves to a system where a vocal minority can impose their will on everyone else.
Defending Confederate history isn’t about supporting slavery or racism; it’s about preserving the right to associate with all aspects of our complex past. Cancel culture’s war on American heritage is really an attack on our freedom to think for ourselves and make our own decisions about what to honor or criticize.
Taxation and Activist Control
Taxation Is Theft:
Ideally, we would abolish taxes, preventing activist control over public funds. But as long as taxes exist, activists shouldn’t get to decide whose opinions are worthy of support.
The concept of taxation as theft has long been a cornerstone of libertarian thought. This principle asserts that forced taxation violates individual property rights and freedom of choice. However, as long as taxes exist, we must confront the reality of how public funds are allocated and controlled.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) authorized billions of dollars to state and local governments 1. This massive influx of taxpayer money has created opportunities for activist groups to exert control over public opinion by allocating these funds. The NAACP, for instance, has demanded that all federal agencies ensure an equitable distribution of resources and report the results annually 2.
Reject State Power:
No group, whether it’s the NAACP or any activist mob, should be able to dictate public opinion through state-backed censorship and forced association.
While the NAACP’s call for transparency and accountability in the disbursement of federal dollars may seem reasonable, it raises concerns about activist control over public funds 2. No group should have the power to dictate how taxpayer money is spent or enforce their version of “equity” on the American people.
The Biden Administration’s focus on advancing racial equity in all administrative initiatives 2 has opened the door for activist organizations to push for control over public funds. This approach threatens the freedom of association by forcing individuals and organizations to comply with specific ideological views to receive public funding.
We must reject this form of state power and activist control. Freedom of association means defending the right of individuals and organizations to make their own choices, even if we disagree with those choices. The alternative is to live as slaves to a system where vocal minorities can impose their will on everyone else through the coercive power of the state.
We must oppose activist groups’ attempts to control public funds or dictate associational choices to preserve our liberty. Only by fiercely guarding our right to choose can we hope to protect the cornerstones of American freedom and resist becoming slaves to culture and globalist agendas.
The Way Forward:
Defending Liberty
Resist Government Overreach:
Reject state-imposed diversity quotas, DEI mandates, and cancel culture’s coercion. These are direct attacks on your freedom.
The assault on freedom of association has reached a critical point. Across the country, lawmakers are proposing bills to limit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at state-funded institutions 1. These efforts directly respond to the overreach of cancel culture and the imposition of state-enforced diversity. To defend our liberty, we must reject these coercive measures that violate our fundamental right to choose.
Support Property Rights:
Defend the absolute right of people to associate freely, including landlords, employers, and private citizens.
Property rights are the cornerstone of individual freedom. They create zones of personal space relatively free from outside interference 2. By defending the absolute right of people to associate freely, we protect the foundation of a free society. This includes supporting landlords, employers, and private citizens in their right to make decisions about their property and associations without government interference.
Preserve History:
Stand firm in defending Confederate history and other heritage symbols. Freedom of association means choosing what we preserve, not the state or activist mobs.
The ongoing battle over Confederate monuments highlights the agenda to erase history and control the narrative. A slim majority of Americans (52%) support efforts to preserve the legacy and history of the Confederacy 3 [6]. We must stand firm in defending our right to choose what we preserve, rejecting the attempts of cancel culture mobs to dictate our associations with the past.
To preserve our liberty, we must fiercely guard our right to choose. Only by resisting government overreach, supporting property rights, and keeping our history can we hope to defend the cornerstones of American freedom and resist becoming slaves to cancel culture and globalist agendas.
Conclusion:
A Call to Action
The battle for freedom of association is far from over, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Cancel culture’s tyranny threatens to turn us into slaves of a system that dictates who we can interact with and what values we’re allowed to hold. This assault on our liberty, disguised as “civil rights” and “equity,” is nothing short of an attempt to control every aspect of our lives.
To wrap up, defending our freedom of association is crucial to preserving American liberty’s cornerstones. We must resist state-enforced diversity, reject DEI mandates, and stand firm against the cancel culture mob that seeks to punish dissent. By fiercely guarding our right to choose our associations, we can maintain our individual autonomy and push back against the globalist agenda that threatens to strip away our fundamental freedoms.
FAQs
What impact does cancel culture have on individuals?
Cancel culture can have severe psychological effects, particularly on teenagers. The fear of being ostracized by peers can lead to anxiety, depression, trauma, and even suicidal tendencies.
Why is cancel culture considered controversial?
Critics of cancel culture argue that it stifles free speech, fails to achieve meaningful social reform, fosters intolerance, and can essentially act as a form of cyberbullying.
Can you provide examples of entities that have been affected by cancel culture?
Several brands and public figures have faced backlash under cancel culture, including Urban Outfitters for cultural appropriation, GoDaddy for inappropriate behavior, Aunt Jemima due to racial stereotypes, Balenciaga over its use of child models, Kanye West for various controversies, Goya Foods following political comments by its CEO, Tampax for controversial social media posts, and Amazon’s failed New York expansion.
What are the consequences of cancel culture in the workplace?
Cancel culture can disrupt the workplace by compelling employers to act against employees deemed offensive by their colleagues. This often leads to damaged working relationships and can result in the exclusion or dismissal of the accused individuals.
References
[2] – https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/09/18/algeria-freedom-association-assembly-under-attack
[3] – https://www.justsecurity.org/98089/civil-society-freedom-of-association/
[4] – Florida Landlord Tenant Rental Laws & Rights 2024 – Innago. https://innago.com/florida-landlord-tenant-laws/
[5] – Cancel culture widely viewed as a threat to democracy and freedom. https://www.thefire.org/news/national-fire-survey-cancel-culture-widely-viewed-threat-democracy-freedom
[6] – Poll: Most Americans Support Preserving Confederate History | The South Carolina Sun. https://thesouthcarolinasun.com/breaking/poll-majority-of-americans-support-preserving-confederate-history/admin/2024/06/20/
[7] – https://www.infowars.com/posts/freedom-of-association-cancel-culture
[8] – https://mises.org/mises-wire/freedom-association-and-cancel-culture
[9] – https://www.justice.gov/crt/fair-housing-act-1
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