Liberty means that people can do what they want without others stopping them. In politics, it involves concepts such as free speech, free assembly, freedom of religion, and other civil liberties.

For supporters of equality of opportunity, the main responsibility of a government is to protect people’s personal liberty. They claim that as long as people have civil and political rights, then the government has fulfilled its role. They argue that governments should not force people to pay taxes, send their children to government schools, or do military service. They believe that these things interfere with people’s rights and liberty.

The most extreme supporters of political liberty are called libertarians. Libertarians believe that all individuals should have total control over their own lives. They support the right for everyone to be totally free as long as it doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s personal liberty. They claim that government control is unnecessary and dangerous.

They believe that individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept personal responsibility for the results of those choices. Libertarians also believe in the importance of equality, its jus that their idea of equality refers strictly to equality of opportunity. They oppose any government actions that attempt to promote equality of outcome.

Supporters of equality of outcome disagree with this view of liberty. They say that without a job, money or an education, people will be very limited in what they can do, and so they are not free. They claim that people cannot be equally free in societies where there is a big difference between the lives of rich and poor people. They see it as the role of government to support marginalised groups so that they are able to have the same freedoms and choices that others have. Often, this means actively redistributing resources and opportunities from some individuals and groups to others (McLaughlin 2013: 11-19).

Historical Myanmar Texts Related to Justice, Equality and Liberty

Preamble

WE, THE PEOPLE OF BURMA including the border areas and the Karenni States, Determined to establish in strength and unity a SOVEREIGN INDEPENDENT STATE, To maintain social order on the basis of the eternal principles of JUSTICE, LIBERTY AND EQUALITY and To guarantee and secure to all citizens JUSTICE social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith, worship, vocation, association and action; EQUALITY of status, of opportunity and before the law, IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this Tenth day of Thadingyut waxing, 1309 B.E. (Twenty-fourth day of September, 1947 A.D.), DO HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

Source: The Constitution of the Union of Burma (1947)

THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL OF THE UNION OF BURMA believes that man will not be free from social evils as long as there are destructive economic systems in the world. In these systems, man exploits man. The Council believes that only a socialist economy based on justice can free all people from all worries over food, clothing and shelter... Only then can we reach a stage of social development where all people are happy and healthy in mind and body.

Source: The Burmese Way to Socialism, The Revolutionary Council (1962)