"You don't like it? You Can Always Leave--- but God Help You if You Try."

A pro-statist will argue that by living in a society, you agree to the social contract-- "and if you don't like it you can always leave." Many of conservative or libertarian leanings seem to be stumped for an anwer to this, or meander about with periphable questions I would like to say that there is a much simpler reply to that rather condescending statement--- one that will bring them to a stone dead halt:

"Can we?"

One of the first things states do is begin to restrict efforts to leave the state. What was the American Revolution but a British Empire trying to punish those who tried to leave it? They sent an armada across an ocean to

And the American Civil War--- the Union didn't give a damn that the South owned slaves Until the South tried to take itself and its land and leave the Union. Then the Union sent down soldiers and started KILLING people. Back then people still understood freedom, and this act was shocking enough that it induced at least two fence-sitting states to leave the Union in horror at such a crime.

Red China, the Soviet Union, Cuba and North Korea routinely murder anyone who attempts to flee their loving embrace. In North Korea it is illegal for citizens to leave the country even temporarily: at public exhibitions the "North Korean" audience is made up of Chinese hired by the government to fill the bleachers.

And theocracies are the same--- Islam calls those who leave the faith "infidels" and demands their beheading.

Even less oppressive societies such as America, Great Britain, Canada, etc. incline towards this. They throw heavy bureaucratic obstacles in the path of taxpayers (especially ones with deep pockets) who attempt to leave their control, and if you succeed in departing they will use any pretense that you "owe" them something to send agents of their revenue service to pursue you and take your money, or even drag you back in chains.

Any serious attempts to secede--- to depart the "social contract" with your property in the form of land still in your possession-- are effectively impossible; the state will implement violence to prevent it. In fact it's "common knowledge" in the United States of America that you "don't have any right" to do so. In America, the country whose very existence as a sovereign State makes this a lie.

Those who say "If you don't like it, leave," are really saying "If you leave your land, your homes, your properties, and your wealth behind we might-- just might-- let you escape with your lives." And that's if the State holding you at gunpoint is one of the more benevolent ones. Many will just shoot you.

In the argument about Statism and individual liberty, "You can always leave" is a lie.