History Main / LibertyOverProsperity

The exact nature of the freedom to be sacrificed varies. At one extreme, a character may object to being herded into a BreadAndCircuses Dystopia, where surveillance is omnipresent, any kind of dissent (no matter how minor) is punishable with a trip to TheGulag and everything, even jobs and marriages, are arranged by the state; at the other extreme, a character may reject living under a perfectly reasonable government because it would impunge on their 'freedom' to do whatever they want to others [[MightMakesRight because they are strong and the others are weak,]] which includes but is not limited to [[DisproportionateRetribution murdering them for petty slights]], [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil enslaving them]], and [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil sexually assaulting them.]] Note that these are, again, extremes, and that usually examples fall somewhere in the middle.

* *''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' goes on to downplay this. The Architect responsible for constructing the Matrix reveals this happened ''five'' times. Even though the second Matrix was considerably morbid compared to the first, humans still [[IRejectYourReality couldn't accept their new reality, no matter how much real pain and suffering it had]]. Then the Oracle realized the problem was that humans had to have it 'their way', that it had to consciously make the choice (even if they didn't remember it) to live in a dream world. [[HumansAreBastards 99% of humanity agreed to be sheep, and the rest built military junta resistances in the real world under the premise of seizing further power on their own and disguising it as freedom]]. The point is, every human doesn't ''care'' about ''other'' peoples' liberties nearly as much as their own... and the Architect predicts that one day, a human with sufficient power (The One) will place his liberty over all of humanity's liberty ''and'' prosperity. [[spoiler:He's right]].

* ''Film/TheMatrix'': Everyone who lives outside of the Matrix has basically chosen this. [[spoiler:[[TheCorruptible Cypher]], however, has [[FaceHeelTurn second thoughts...]]]] Of course, since the Matrix is a representation of the world as it was in 1999, not everyone has prosperity there anyway. Agent Smith states a utopia was once attempted, but no one would accept the programming, with it [[LotusEaterMachine being seen as a dream]] they "kept trying to wake up from" and "entire crops were lost."
** ''Film/TheMatrixReloaded'' goes on to downplay this. The Architect responsible for constructing the Matrix reveals this happened ''five'' times. Even though the second Matrix was considerably morbid compared to the first, humans still [[IRejectYourReality couldn't accept their new reality, no matter how much real pain and suffering it had]]. Then the Oracle realized the problem was that humans had to have it 'their way', that it had to consciously make the choice (even if they didn't remember it) to live in a dream world. [[HumansAreBastards 99% of humanity agreed to be sheep, and the rest built military junta resistances in the real world under the premise of seizing further power on their own and disguising it as freedom]]. The point is, every human doesn't ''care'' about ''other'' peoples' liberties nearly as much as their own... and the Architect predicts that one day, a human with sufficient power (The One) will place his liberty over all of humanity's liberty ''and'' prosperity. [[spoiler:He's right]].

The exact nature of the freedom to be sacrificed varies. At one extreme, a character may object to being herded into a BreadAndCircuses Dystopia, where surveillance is omnipresent, any kind of dissent (no matter how minor) is punishable with a trip to TheGulag and everything, even jobs and marriages, are arranged by the state; at the other extreme, a character may reject living under a perfectly reasonable law system because it would impunge on their 'freedom' to do whatever they want to others [[MightMakesRight because they are strong and the others are weak,]] which includes but is not limited to [[DisproportionateRetribution murdering them for petty slights]], [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil enslaving them]], and [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil sexually assaulting them.]] Note that these are, again, extremes,

The exact nature of the freedom to be sacrificed varies. At one extreme, a character may object to being herded into a BreadAndCircuses Dystopia, where surveillance is omnipresent, any kind of dissent (no matter how minor) is punishable with a trip to TheGulag and everything, even jobs and marriages, are arranged by the state; at the other extreme, a character may reject living under a perfectly reasonable law system because they would impunge on their 'freedom' to do whatever they want to others [[MightMakesRight because they are strong and the others are weak,]] which includes but is not limited to [[DisproportionateRetribution murdering them for petty slights]], [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil enslaving them]], and [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil sexually assaulting them.]] Note that these are, again, extremes,

The exact nature of the freedom to be sacrificed varies. At one extreme, a character may object to being herded into a BreadAndCircuses Dystopia, where surveillance is omnipresent, any kind of dissent (no matter how minor) is punishable with a trip to TheGulag and everything, even jobs and marriages, are arranged by the state; at the other extreme, a character may reject living under a perfectly reasonable law system because they would impunge on their 'freedom' to do whatever they want to others [[MightMakesRight because they are strong and the others are weak,]] including but not limited [[DisproportionateRetribution murdering them for petty slights]], [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil enslaving them]], and [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil sexually assaulting them.]] Note that these are, again, extremes,

The exact nature of the freedom to be sacrificed varies. At one extreme, a character may object to being herded into a BreadAndCircuses Dystopia, where surveillance is omnipresent and everything, even jobs and marriages, are arranged by the state; at the other extreme, a character may object to the imposition of a justice system, and so giving up the freedom to extract a private {{Revenge}} for slights, however trivial, or the justice system treating members of other groups as if they were equal to their own and had rights, therefore denying them their right to have [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil slaves]]. And all between.

* ''Anime/SpeedGrapher'': [[TheBadGuyWins Suitengu]] and manages to crash the entire world economy [[ItMakesSenseInContext by orchestrating the intentional nosedive of an all-encompassing international megacorporation, raising an army of sex-fueled superpowers, and planting a hefty dose of C4 in the world's largest elitist rape club]]. The bad news is, every country on Earth has been downgraded to a third-world country. The good news is, with everyone in the same boat, all those worldwide humanitarian efforts that were intentionally put on the back-burner by the status quo have started up under modest budgets and an interested labor force. Whether this leaves everyone better off or not [[NoEndorHolocaust is basically glossed over]] in favor of showing off how happy the main characters are.

* ''Anime/SpeedGrapher'': TheBadGuyWins and manages to crash the entire world economy [[ItMakesSenseInContext by orchestrating the intentional nosedive of an all-encompassing international megacorporation, raising an army of sex-fueled superpowers, and planting a hefty dose of C4 in the world's largest elitist rape club]]. The bad news is, every country on Earth has been downgraded to a third-world country. The good news is, with everyone in the same boat, all those worldwide humanitarian efforts that were intentionally put on the back-burner by the status quo have started up under modest budgets and an interested labor force.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'', the original team were all children of obscenely wealthy families, but discovered their parents were members of a supernatural apocalypse cult, and hit the streets to escape. After their parents' deaths, they chose to live off the grid in a base under La Brea Tar Pits.

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* ''Anime/HeroicAge'': One of the men from Titarros remarks that "Prosperity is a chimera if the price is enslavement."
* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', Luffy expresses little to no interest in treasure and doesn't care if One Piece even exists. His main motivation for becoming Pirate King is to be able to have the most freedom. This goes even beyond safety or warnings, from fellow pirates and allies, or Lawful marines. He once declared war on the entire World Government because it got in the way of him saving his [[TrueCompanions crewmate]]. He'll do whatever the heck he wants, and damn the consequences; we're lucky he's a good guy.

* In ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'', the original team were all children of obscenely wealthy families, but discovered their parents were members of a supernatural apocalypse cult, and hit the streets to escape. After their parents' deaths, they chose to live off the grid in a base under La Brea Tar Pits.
* In the ''ComicBook/TheLifeAndTimesOfScroogeMcDuck'' chapter, "Buckaroo of the Badlands", Teddy Roosevelt inspires Scrooge by telling how he chose the life of a cowboy over a life of privilege.
-->"Being born wealthy is no accomplishment! That's why I became a cowboy, to find the life I missed by not being born poor like you! To make yourself rich through the glory of hard work, with the beat of a hardy life in your veins - By Godfrey, ''that's'' an accomplishment!"

* ''The Wolf and the Dog'': An Aesop's myth about a starving wolf meeting a well-fed dog. The dog suggests that the wolf might live with him and his master, but then the wolf remarks that there's a bare strip in the fur around the dog's neck - and the dog explains that he's on the chain/leash usually, and his master just let him free temporarily. The wolf decides to prefer freedom even if this means he stays hungry.

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* In ''Film/DemolitionMan'', the MegaCity San Angeles, built in the wake of a massive earthquake, is controlled by benevolent despot Dr Raymond Cocteau who runs it as a CrapsaccharineWorld where swearing is a finable offence, sex and even kissing are taboo and instead carried out in VirtualReality, and the police are totally incapable of dealing with violent crime...because it is otherwise a pacifistic utopia that doesn't really ''have'' violent crime. It is rejected by Edgar Friendly and his underground society who don't like being told what to do or having their lives micromanaged, but this means they are cut off from the San Angeles economy and periodically raid it for food, with Cocteau painting Friendly as a dangerous terrorist whose followers could easily have happy and prosperous lives if they simply saw sense and accepted his rule. Cocteau proves so insecure about this clash of philosophies that he ends up releasing the AxCrazy [[TheSociopath sociopath]] Simon Phoenix from prison to assassinate Friendly, [[EvilIsNotAToy with predictable results]].
* In ''Franchise/StarWars'' lore, this was much more or less a doctrine of the Sith Order. Compared to the Jedi order who represented more of the Prosperity side, ordaining those in the Order to give up most of their individuality to become a unified force in pursuit of peace and justice, the Sith on the other hand shook off this notion in favor of pursuing power and enrichment for themselves.

* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': This is how the wildlings or [[InsistentTerminology "free folk"]] (the two names speak volumes about what the two cultures think of each other) view themselves, preferring to live in a very harsh, cold, and sometimes giant-infested land outside the boundaries of the realm, than to be "kneelers".
* ''Literature/ParadiseLost'': Satan would rather reign in {{Hell}}, than serve in {{Heaven}}, and his minions go right along with him. They are all in a literal SelfInflictedHell, and can go back to Heaven at any time they wish, yet are staunchly determined to remain "free".
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Golden Transcendence]]'', Atkins recounts how his family preferred liberty to prosperity -- they didn't do what anyone else told them to do.
* In Creator/EDBaker's ''Literature/FairyWings'', goblins grumble about how oppressive the reign of Oberon and Titania was. Why, in the old days, trolls could set up an inn by the wayside and the next day everyone would come to eat a nice meal of roasted travelers.

* One of the many quirky students from ''Literature/WaysideSchool'' is a NiceGuy named Myron who just wants freedom. He's granted this in a chapter where some mysterious men in suits trade him his safety for absolute freedom. This allows him to do whatever he wants with no consequences with impunity, which isn't much since again he's pretty chill, but he did choose that over safety.
* ''Literature/TheDispossessed'': The people of Anarres are descended from anarchists who fled the egoism and social stratification that dominated the world of Urras. Anarres is a barely habitable desert moon, and life there is frugal at best, but the Anarresti enjoy complete equality and the knowledge that nothing they possess came from exploiting another person. However, it's a plot point that the Anarresti are becoming dogmatic in their thinking, and shunning anyone who doesn't conform to established custom. Hence the book's tagline, "An Ambiguous Utopia".

* This is one reason why Red in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' doesn't get along with White. Red prioritizes freedom and passion while White focuses on order and peace to the exclusion of all else. In broader terms, their conflict boils down to OrderVsChaos.

* This is pretty much the entire point for "followers" of Big Boss' supposed ideology in the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' universe.
* This is the demon's path in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney''. Not to be confused with the "bad" path, the game makes it fairly clear there is no bad or good path, the demons want everyone to be free in all things, which would result in a dystopian planet with no society because everyone would do what they damn well want, and the angel's path leads to a world where everyone is happy, because they have no other choice but to be happy, and are brainwashed into so. You can also TakeAThirdOption, as per series norm.
* The WildCard ending to ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' has The Courier create an independent New Vegas free of the machinations of Mr House, the NCR and the Legion, for the reason that the people of the Mojave deserve to govern themselves without any outside interference. The final mission and achievement for this is literally titled "''No Gods, No Masters''".
* Done in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' should you side with the Railroad [[spoiler:or the Minutemen and help them destroy the Institute. The Institute's technological marvels in the fields of robotics and bioscience are [[LostTechnology lost]], but at least the Commonwealth is still in the hands of the wastelanders who live in it, rather than the testing ground for the amok experiments of a handful of shady scientist types.]]
* Daichi's ending in ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor2'' leads to this kind of scenario. Daichi says he'd rather destroy the one who controls the world and stop him from toying with humanity than let one of the other factions depend on him to recreate their 'perfect world'. [[spoiler:The ending leads to the entire world outside the barrier being deleted and replaced with an endless, lifeless ocean to fill the void left behind, but at least humanity is completely free of supernatural influences forever. [[UpdatedRerelease Or at least a week at most before the next divine being comes by and takes out what's left of humanity, which it can't do in any of the other endings bar the unobtainable canonical one.]]]]
** Al-Saiduq's ending is a lesser twist on the same line of thinking (and also a twist on the traditional 'Chaos' endings to ''Shin Megami Tensei'' games), with the Protagonist and Al-Saiduq coming to the conclusion that it is better to give up on the old world entirely and build a new one from scratch than continue to live on the sufferance on the current world and its controller. [[spoiler:This ending also leads to the death of Polaris and the deletion of the old world, but Al-Saiduq [[AbstractApotheosis becomes a new world and its god]] and swears to humanity that he will not interfere in their freedom in any way. Given all the hoops you must jump through to qualify for this ending in the first place, it is extremely likely that he means it.]]

* The main conflict between the Collective and the Resistance in ''VideoGame/ForgedBattalion'' comes down to this, with the Collective holding that the prosperity brought by them is worth the totalitarian control they hold, while the Resistance believes in individual freedom.

* ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' poses this as its final question: [[spoiler:The Aquinas Hub built by Majestic 12 allows whoever controls its central AI to control all global communication, since every phone call, satellite transmission, and long-range electronic signal is re-routed through the hub [[BigBrotherIsWatchingYou and can be monitored, blocked or altered at will]]. Three factions (four if you include the BigBad, but [[NoCampaignForTheWicked you cannot side with him]]) want the Hub for their own ends: [[DeusEstMachina HELIOS]] represents the Prosperity end of the scale, leaving an AI with no restraints on their power and a directive to make the world safe and prosperous in charge of humanity's future. Morgan Everett and the Illuminati represent a middle point, where the Hub is stewarded by an AncientConspiracy whose membership and goals may change as new members are brought on and old ones die, and where (hypothetically) anyone from the outside may join if found worthy. Finally, Tracer Tong represents Liberty by wanting the Aquinas Hub destroyed, which will knock out all global communication and cause civilization to temporarily fragment, which of course means an immediate loss of prosperity for everyone but maintaining the long-term freedom for humanity to self-determine.]]
* ''VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar'' has a similar choice to its original. [[spoiler:HELIOS again represents Prosperity, wishing to implant every human being with nanotech so it can function as a hub for a global direct democracy where [[HiveMind it has direct access to every human being's inner thoughts and desires and can shape society according to global consensus]]. The Illuminati again represent the mid-point, wanting HELIOS destroyed so their own AI alternative can take over and institute a system similar to their ending in the first game, leaving humanity unaltered but under their control. Finally, Leo (if you rescued him earlier) [[OmnicidalNeutral wants to put all the conspiracies out to pasture with a bullet to the head]] and let people make up their own minds. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Picking his ending leads to humanity exterminating itself and the Omar inheriting the world]]. The Templars represent an outside to this dichotomy, as they're [[EvilReactionary Evil Reactionaries]] who want to ban all human augmentation and institute a global purge: They create a theocratic feudal state if they come out on top, hence providing neither liberty nor prosperity.]]

-->'''Bradford:''' ADVENT's got their propaganda machine working overtime...we're still seeing a steady flow of migrants heading into the cities.\\

'''Dr. Tygan:''' Maybe not-but what about the terminally ill? The elderly, or the disabled? The aliens can offer them something we can't--something most people would trade anything for.\\

* Main conflict between The Collective and The Resistance in VideoGame/ForgedBattalion comes down to this, with Collective holding that prosperity brought by them is worth the totalitarian control they hold, while Resistance believes in individual freedom.

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