Leviticus 25:10 tells the people of ancient Israel: “You are to consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim freedom in the land for all its inhabitants.” (HCSB) The ESV translates this as “And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.” The Hebrew word translated as liberty or freedom is “de.ror” – a flowing, free run, and this verse (in the KJV) is cast on the Liberty Bell outside Independence Hall in Pennsylvania.

This year, 2026, is of course, the conclusion of the fifth of five 50-year periods of American independence. We often refer to this as Anno Libertas (Year of Liberty) 250.

Of course, we here at TPOL freely admit that the ideal, the goal, of liberty in these States has not been achieved.

But this year, do we not have another opportunity to work closer to that ideal? Not just in our fifty States but throughout “all the land,” the entire world?

Is it too much to hope that what we are seeing in Iran (Persia) as we write this is an indication of liberty being proclaimed, at last, in one of the oldest surviving nations on this planet? The rebellion against the Islamic Republic of Iran is being fought brutally, but more and more people appear to be deserting the tyrannical government of the mullahs.

Can we hope for something similar in Venezuela? While the Acting President is a loyal shill of the presently-confined Maduro, there are rumblings. The people who have been working for even a little bit for liberty and restoration of sanity in their economy and civic affairs are very optimistic, and some of the worse problems are being challenged, if not yet accomplished.

Argentina appears to be still holding onto the gains promised by the libertarian victory of Milei , though the conflict and confrontation continues even after nearly a year and a half. While it is clear that he will be unable to do everything he and his supporters want to free Argentina and restore both its economy and its freedom, he appears to accomplishing a lot.

These are not the only places in the world where liberty is being proclaimed. But there are no places on this planet where the need to proclaim freedom does not exist. Many more than others.

But let us concentrate on the Fifty States.

The need to proclaim liberty “to all its inhabitants” is clear, and urgent, in all Fifty States. Some more than others.

The threats to liberty in our nations come from multiple directions. Of course, government is one key: all levels of government generally fail in one of the claimed reasons for their establishment: to protect the liberty of their people. Many see The Donald and his actions (and followers, Trumpistas) as an incredible threat to liberty, both of Americans and of many other people.

However, we submit that many of those who scream the loudest curses at Trump are themselves even greater threats to our liberty. Most important, he is (we believe) less of a threat to freedom and liberty than the woman and her supporters whom he defeated in 2024. But it is strictly a relative comparison. He and the Federal Government he heads are great dangers to the liberty of every American and most poeple on this planet.

The same is true for the State governments: some are much worse than others, but all are bad. Ditto for county and other local governments, and tribal governments. Mandami, Walz, and Newsom are far from the only threats, if perhaps the best known and some of the more powerful. While the tendancy is to side with our conservative “friends” and join their condemnation of these and others (Polis and Luhan Greshem come immediately to mind), we recognize that the conservative, red state types also constantly infringe on our liberty. (And push for more.) We can cite such as Abbott of Texas and De Santos of Florida, but must include many more: while they push for some liberties, they are comfortable with keeping limits on many liberties. And even coming down harder.

The rights of free speech and keeping and bearing arms are not the only liberties that matter. A very recent example is the very recent SCOTUS decision on Case v. Montana which stated that warrantless entry into a private home did not violate the 4th Amendment because they had probable cause to believe he needed emergency assistance.

Finally, it is not just governments that threaten our liberty, both personal and economic. Admittedly, private businesses often use governments to take away liberty, as do private neighbors and the never-absent Karens (or Mrs. Grundies). But corporations big and small – IT, medical, and across the board – favor less liberty. For everyone but themselves, of course.

So we urge all lovers of liberty to indeed make 2026 a “Year of Jubilee” and proclaim liberty throughout the land(s), and unto all inhabitants thereof.