History Main / LibertyOverProsperity

* This is pretty much the entire point for "followers" of Big Boss' supposed ideology in the ''Franchise/MetalGear'' universe.

-->'''Bradford:''' ''ADVENT's got their propaganda machine working overtime...we're still seeing a steady flow of migrants heading into the cities.''\\
'''Dr. Tygan:''' ''I'm not sure they have to do all that much convincing at this point.''\\
'''Bradford:''' ''...And I'm not sure I'd trade having a chip in my head for a few hot meals and the cure for the common cold.''\\
'''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.''\\
'''Bradford:''' ''You're wrong about that, Doctor. We can offer them freedom, even if it means they have to endure the pains of being human.''

* 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 [[PermanentlyMissableContent 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.]]

* Done in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' should you [[spoiler:side with the Minutemen and help them destroy the Institute. The Institute's technological marvels in the fields of robotics and bioscience are [[PermanentlyMissableContent 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.]]

->'''Bradford:''' ''ADVENT's got their propaganda machine working overtime...we're still seeing a steady flow of migrants heading into the cities.''
->'''Dr. Tygan:''' ''I'm not sure they have to do all that much convincing at this point.''
->'''Bradford:''' ''...And I'm not sure I'd trade having a chip in my head for a few hot meals and the cure for the common cold.''
->'''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.''
->'''Bradford:''' ''You're wrong about that, Doctor. We can offer them freedom, even if it means they have to endure the pains of being human.''

* In ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'', [[spoiler:V just about completely destroys England's fragile economy in order to "free" the public for the Norsefire government.]]

* In ''Discworld/GoingPostal'', this forms the core of the emnity between Reacher Gilt and Lord Vetinari. Gilt, a [[AynRand Randian]] archetype and a completely CorruptCorporateExecutive who thinks nothing of screwing over his fellow man (including theft, embezzlement and outright murder) for fun or profit, represents the 'liberty'. Vetinari, a [[Creator/NiccoloMachiavelli Machiavellian]] autocrat and [[TheChessmaster Thud-master]] who believes the most important part of freedom is the freedom to take the consequences for your own follies but ultimately given second chances (an 'angel') if you can use it to turn your life around, represents the 'prosperity'. [[spoiler:After Vetinari successfully guides protagonist Moist von Lipwig into defeating Gilt, it's implied Gilt [[IDieFree intentionally killed himself in the epilogue]] by stepping into a pit of spikes rather than do like Moist and take a government job.]]

* ''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."

** Later, however, he blames Kirk for the hardship his people experienced on the planet, including losing his wife, and goes on [[Film/StarTrekTheWrathOfKhan a quest for revenge]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'': The main conflict between Lucio and Vishkar Corporation (and to a small extension, their NobleTopEnforcer, Symmetra) boils down to this. Vishkar believes that Prosperity and order prevails over all else, they have built prosperous cities where people are living in great standards, and believes freedom is just an illusion that causes more harm, so they strove to make the world more prosperous, even if they have to resort to corrupt methods like slavery or destroying cultural icons. At least that is what Symmetra believed, but she's starting to doubt whether they're really aiming for prosperity of all like she's doing or [[CorruptCorporateExecutive just trying to line in more profit for them or imposing their will]]. On the other hand, Lucio is the guy who believes in Liberty greatly that he drove Vishkar when they went too far in oppressing his home. While he's now rich because of his rebellion making him an international superstar, his favela home still remained dirt poor, but he considers it a fair price, they still retained their freedom and he can still deliver his fortune to his home.

* Done again in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'' should you [[spoiler:side with the Minutemen and help them destroy the Institute. The Institute's technological marvels in the fields of robotics and bioscience are LostForever, 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.]]

* In JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Golden Transcendence]]'', Atkins recounts how his family prefered liberty to prosperity -- they didn't do what anyone else told them to do.

* ''MutantChronicles'': Most people who decide to go freelance make this choice. However, most of them can't hack the insecurity and figure a steady paycheck, pension and medical benefits are worth the loss of liberty.

* In ''ComicBook/SupermanRedSon'', the Global Soviet Union rules over the whole world, save the DividedStatesOfAmerica. Despite people all over the world living in a socialist utopia, the Americans remain independent, living in a war-torn country, to avoid being ruled over by BigBrother Superman.

* 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''".

->''I've seen the future, you know what it is!? It's a 47-year-old virgin sitting around in his beige pajamas, drinking a banana-broccoli shake, singing "I'm an Oscar Meyer Wiener"! You live up top, you live Cocteau's way: what he wants, when he wants, how he wants! The alternative? Come down here]], maybe starve to death.''

->''I've seen the future, you know what it is!? It's a [[NoSexAllowed 47-year-old virgin]] sitting around in his beige pajamas, drinking [[{{Veganopia}} a banana-broccoli shake]], singing "I'm an Oscar Meyer Wiener"! You live up top, you live [[BigBad Cocteau]]'s way: [[TheEvilsOfFreeWill what he wants, when he wants, how he wants]]! The alternative? Come [[AbsurdlySpaciousSewer down here]], [[SadisticChoice maybe starve to death]].''
-->-- '''[[RebelLeader Edgar]] [[BadassLongcoat Friendly]]''', ''Film/DemolitionMan''

->"''Here at least we shall be free; the Almighty hath not built here for his envy, will not drive us hence: Here we may reign secure, and in my choice to reign is worth ambition, though in Hell'': '''''Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven'''''."
-->-- '''{{Satan}}''', ''Literature/ParadiseLost''

* In ''SupermanRedSon'', the Global Soviet Union rules over the whole world, save the DividedStatesOfAmerica. Despite people all over the world living in a socialist utopia, the Americans remain independent, living in a war-torn country, to avoid being ruled over by BigBrother Superman.

'''Please note: This is for fictional cases where it is clear that the people are choosing freedom over comfort (or at least ''believe'' they are doing so) - this is not a place to vent about political opinions, so Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease.'''

* This is the main point of ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed''. Both the Templars and the Assassins want peace and prosperity for all mankind. It's just that the Templars think peace can only be achieved by enslaving everyone, whilst the Assassins think that it can only be gained, or is best gained, when we are free to pursue it, even if that means great pain.

-->-- '''{{Satan}}''', ''ParadiseLost''

* ''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".
* ''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".