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by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.
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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

A Free City: What Would That Entail?

Friday May 31, 2002

I'm running for mayor of Tampa. My campaign theme is "a well city that's fit, fun and free." What do you think? A few questions come to mind for your consideration: Does this theme have a nice ring to it and does it seem desirable? Also, do you suppose people will know what I'm talking about?

I think it's an attractive theme -- I think I would vote for someone with such an agenda. Since the terms fit, fun and free can mean different things to different people, it might be helpful if I'm a bit more specific about each.

Two days ago, I described what the FIT part of the campaign entails and yesterday I covered the FUN part of the three-part theme. Today's topic is the FREE part. What, exactly, do I have in mind for a FREE city? Isn't every city in America free? How do I propose making Tampa a city where residents and visitors might have more freedom if I'm elected than they do now?

Of course, a well city that is fit, fun and free is not my only goal. I also want a well city where people embrace personal responsibility, where courtesy and civility are valued and practiced, where continuing education is available to all, where there are ample incentives for involvement in local government and where wellness qualities are integrated into city life and public policy. For now, though, the topic is a free city.

The meaning of the word free seems plain enough. Alas, it is not. Free has many connotations and takes wildly different forms. For example, a search for "free" at Yahoo.com led to websites promoting free stuff, free work at home businesses, free credit cards, free money, free samples and a free web directory! Further, a search for the word freedom brought up sites for a freedom perfume, freedom from debt and financial freedom. It seems clear that the responsibility rests with the candidate to be specific about terms, and I intend to do just that regarding fit, fun and free -- and other terms used in the campaign that might be misunderstood. My use of the word free is based on the safeguards in the Bill of Rights of our US Constitution.

Here are additional specifics about how the citizens of Tampa will be even more free than they are now if I am elected mayor. I will:

Respect and protect the right to privacy. I'll oppose surveillance cameras at public events and elsewhere. I will have the cameras taken down in Ybor City. Such snooping seems inconsistent with treasured civil liberties. We should always assume citizens are not just innocent but friendly, fun-loving, honorable and otherwise assets to our community. We know everyone is not, but government should assume the best about the people it serves. If I'm elected, Big Brother will be less welcome in Tampa than Satan is in Mayor Carolyn Risher's Inglis, FL. Unlike the mayor of Inglis, however, I intend to make Tampa free of creeping theocracy. If elected, everyone will be welcome in Tampa! However, trolls, goblins, Visigoths and the like will be politely requested to behave themselves.
Respect and protect the right of consenting adults to do as they like in their personal affairs. It is not necessary to approve of everything other people believe, say, watch or do in order to honor their rights as Americans to be left alone to believe, say, watch or do it (assuming they are not frightening the horses or otherwise infringing upon the rights of others.) We safeguard our own freedoms by protecting the personal liberties of those whose harmless pleasures might be different from our own. If elected mayor, government meddling in personal morality will end.
Respect the wall of separation between church and state. The U.S. Constitution mandates the separation of church and state. It forbids government, including mayors, from meddling in matters of religion. Promotion of religious ideals is the job of America's houses of worship. Government displays of the Commandments or any religious code violate the separation tradition that has given us more religious liberty than any people in world history. Tampa is religiously diverse -- the mayor must respect that and I will, if elected. The long history of Europe and current hostilities in the Middle East clearly suggest what can happen when government and religion are intertwined. The mayor is not the city prayer leader, nor should his presence at religious observances be such as to imply governmental approval or endorsement, official sanction or other association for or against any religion.

A city is well served if the morality of the people flows from character-based motives and desires, rather than from coercion or duress. As mayor, I want to encourage the citizenry to display the highest motives and desires based on freedom, not coercion or duress. Freedom is the ability to live your life the way you want to live it, and the mayor should do all in his power to respect the rights of all residents to do just that -- live free.

Be free, be well and look on the bright side of life.

Domain: purpose
Subdomain: applied wellness

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