What can we expect in this new year?

Enjoy a day off, of course. Be with friends and family, and count your blessings! If you can: many people still have to work on New Year’s Day – and even had to last night. Not counting most (but not all) of the million people standing in the rain in Times Square.

And of course, with all the sports events, other special events, activities, etc. there are millions of Americans and people around the world who will be working. Some out of pleasure of working and accomplishing various things. But many – indeed, most – because they have to: essential tasks (or so they believe) or because they need the money or whatever they are making or processing or growing or caring for – to live on. Not just themselves but their families.

The need to work is one thing that “unites” the world. And Americans. Yes, there are many people who are retired and no longer need to work to earn a living – they generally live on what they (and others) saved and put aside – or they are on a type of welfare. And there are people who live entirely as parasites: they live on what other people provide, either voluntarily or by threat of force.

But the need for liberty – to make our own decisions and accept the consequences of our actions – is something else that unites the world, and which we can also seek out in 2025. We can live free in an unfree world, as Harry Browne once pointed out. And as we point out, human liberty is the gift of our Creator and not to be wasted, but to be cherished, protected, passed to our posterity, and enjoyed. We can only enjoy liberty if we also accept the responsibility of our own actions, and hold ourselves to the same standards we hold others to.

Here is our best wishes for your liberty in this new year!