October 11, 2025
FDR's Four Freedoms

The Socialist FDR in a famous speech claimed that we Americans have four freedoms.

  • Freedom of speech and expression: The right for people everywhere to express their views freely and openly.
  • Freedom of worship: The right of every person to practice their religion in their own way.
  • Freedom from want: The economic stability and security to ensure a healthy, peaceful life for the people of every nation.
  • Freedom from fear: A worldwide reduction of armaments so that no nation can commit an act of aggression against another. 

The first two of these are claims to negative rights, as I have explained in the previous post. These are rationally and morally defensible.

The second two of these are claims to positive rights. These are neither rationally nor morally defensible.

Negative rights place no burden upon others other than to refrain from harming or inhibiting their neighbors.

Positive rights on the other hand either place enormous burdens on others without their permission or are utopian nonsense.

Freedom from want like respect is not a right and must be earned.

Freedom from fear is humanely impossible.