\n<\/p>\n
Freedom is something we desire. The freedom to choose, to speak up, to produce, to follow our passions and our dreams.<\/p>\n
And organizations in search of efficiency, shortcuts or profits often argue for freedom as well. The freedom to organize their production and to go to market without regulation or hassle.<\/p>\n
Our actions, though, have consequences. That power plant might be venting steam into the river that millions depend on. Your upstairs neighbor\u2019s loud music at midnight is your sleep interrupted. Your worse might be someone else\u2019s better (and vice versa).<\/p>\n
The temptation is to deny the externalities or to minimize their impact. Teenager thinking is to argue for freedom by pointing out that nothing bad will happen, or if something does, it won\u2019t matter much, and even then, it won\u2019t really be your fault. Denial is tempting, but it\u2019s not helpful.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s more useful and productive to do precisely the opposite.<\/p>\n
The best way to achieve freedom is to take responsibility for the actions you\u2019re taking. And the best way to be clear that you\u2019re taking responsibility is to highlight the externalities and own them.<\/p>\n
When you acknowledge what we can easily see, it\u2019s much easier to trust you.<\/p>\n
List for us all the negative consequences of your policy, output or actions, and then tell us how you\u2019ll remedy them.<\/p>\n
Freedom isn\u2019t a clever plan to be let off the hook. It\u2019s a deliberate path to being on the hook.<\/p>\n