# Freedom and Uniformity By:: [[Ross Jackson]] 2024-01-28 One of the issues organizations and societies face is that people don’t tend to want the same things. This is relatively obvious on the issue basis. Some people prefer option A; others prefer option B. Not a big deal. People can discuss the relative merits and come to a consensus or decision. When one abstracts from the issue to aggregate, fundamental differences emerge. At this level, it is more challenging to find consensus. But this difference is not shared equally. At its core, many issues are about freedom or uniformity. Some people want freedom; others want uniformity. The freedom model advocates for one individual to have the ability to determine what is right for them. People are different. Different people will want different things. We should all have the freedom to pursue these individual preferences. Under the uniformity model, advocates want everybody to do the same thing (or not be able to do the same thing). This group often believes that their view is the “right” one and should be uniformly applied to all. The subtlety often neglected is that these two things are not the same. Those advocating for freedom respect that individuals can hold different views. If an individual wants to do something or not do something, that individual can follow their heart, mind, and desire. This view is not shared by those arguing for uniformity. If a person wants to do something contrary to what has been dictated, that person cannot do so. The threat these groups face is not the same. A progressive organization can include conservatives. A conservative organization wants to irradicate progressive perspectives. Why does this difference exist? Conservativism poses no risk to progressivism. Progress can be made easily in the face of those adhering to the past. Those people retaining the old ways are simply left behind by progress. Progressivism is an existential threat to conservativism. Once progress is, in fact, progress, the conservative view loses its legitimacy. Progressivism is dynamic. It will exist whether it is sanctioned or forced underground. Conservativism, for it to exist the way conservatives wish, can only exist as a hegemonic power forbidding all alternatives. #### Related Items [[Freedom]] [[Uniformity]] [[Progressive]] [[Conservative]] [[Power]] [[Inclusive]]