It’s time to say goodbye to 2013. As the ball drops, we can also say goodbye to another slice of our freedom.

Freedom is simple. You get to choose, and you bear the consequences. Our nation was founded on the ideas of freedom and personal responsibility.

It was a revolutionary idea. Until then, kings, bullies and despots had always chosen their peoples’ religion, occupation, and station in life. It was expected. The birth of the United States was a grand experiment. Could the people govern themselves? Could they survive without a king?

There were those in the 18th century who wanted George Washington to be king. It was suggested to him, and he had opportunities to seize power if he had wanted to. Fortunately, he would have none of it. It is to his great credit that he not only refused the honor, but laid out the reasons why. (also here and here) In my opinion, he was the father of our country more in that refusal than in anything else he did.

So, it is a great disappointment to me that although we have not yet appointed a king to make our choices for us, we have constructed a bureaucratic administrative state that does much the same thing.

I am often astonished by how easily we surrender our freedom – and for such small gain. Sometimes it is traded for “security”, such as the idea that if we wait in lines at airports, suicide bombers will be unable to harm us. Other times it is literally thrown away, as when the public demands laws that force drivers to wear seat belts, or professionals to report private behaviors that are not even crimes – substituting blind legal requirements for professional and ethical considerations.

Freedom and responsibility are inseparable. Our ability to be free depends on our ability to be responsible. Those laws take from us the ability to be responsible, because they take from us the ability to choose. When not wearing a seat belt is a crime, wearing one is no longer virtuous, or even prudent. It is simply required.

I offer two egregious examples of our surrender to petty tyranny.

On top of my list is the is the simple, economical, widely available, non-toxic and extremely useful incandescent light bulb (of more than 40 watts).

I don’t have to tell you how ubiquitous this device is. It comes in hundreds of shapes and sizes perfectly suited for each use. It is light weight, simple, cheap, silent, and reliable. It gives off heat, which is sometimes part of its purpose.

Please show me where in the US Constitution the federal government is given the power to tell me what type of light bulb is best in my house? Please tell me what justification qualifies the federal government and an army of bureaucrats and special interests to force me to use something I don’t want over something I do.

Second on my list is medical care. As of Jan 1, 2014, an entire range of choices have been taken from us, from our insurance companies, from our doctors, and from our health care advisors. A massive “law” now dictates how things will be done, how they will be paid for, how medical records will be kept, and will soon will dictate how much of my income I may keep if I don’t buy medical services in the way that the federal law requires.

The PPACA is a huge intrusion on our freedom. Light bulbs are important, but health care can be life or death. To be required to go through government to get health care, even to the extent of requiring providers to seek approval for their actions, is completely unacceptable.

Listen carefully to the conversation around the PPACA. The essence of its justification is that the people can’t handle the responsibility. We are not capable of caring for one another voluntarily, and some elite must make decisions to compensate for the poor choices of the people. Our freedom is surrendered to gain the promise of “fairness”. Given the way the promises have been kept so far, I say this is a very poor trade.

The good news is that we live in a vibrant, representative republic where those who write the laws are responsive to the voices of the people. When the public is truly moved and motivated, those in office comply with their will. There is very little that a truly aroused public cannot accomplish, if they are united and determined.

So say goodbye to a little more freedom tonight, but join me in choosing a different course in 2014. It is time to admit our mistakes, reverse the choices, and reclaim our freedom – and our responsibilities – we have surrendered too much, and it is never too late.

Follow me on Twitter: @donlee1037