Freedom Is Not Free

Star Parker on Mar 18, 2026

At the height of the energy crisis in the 1970s, when oil prices more than sextupled, The Economist magazine showed a map of the Persian Gulf on its cover with the headline, "What's a Nice Thing Like Oil Doing in a Place Like This?"

The Iranian miscreants, with whom we are now at war, understand that, although they could care less what their own citizens think, in free countries public opinion and support is vital to a president's ability to wage war.

By impeding the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil supplies pass, they know they can hit the American people at the gas pump and start them screaming for President Donald Trump to pull out of the war.

I felt it the other day when I shelled out $150 to fill my tank. For sure I wasn't happy.

But for the many who are out of sorts because of high gas prices, know that if it brings you to start calling for Trump to pull out of the war, you are following to the letter the script written by the terrorists in Tehran.

One thing that characterizes times like this is the tendency for governments to not do what they should do and to do what they shouldn't do.

Weak leaders govern by poll, not by principle. Their finger is always to the wind trying to determine what will make voters happy tomorrow. They seek ways that government can "ease the pain."

In that energy crisis of the 1970s, President Jimmy Carter launched a major government assault on energy markets. Price controls. Government programs to incentivize use of alternative energy sources. He created the Department of Energy. It all just made things worse. Carter then was voted out, and Ronald Reagan was voted in. Reagan immediately removed government interventions and the price of oil plummeted by almost a factor of six.

So, on the domestic front, government, rather than looking for political fixes to "ease the pain," should be keeping consumers in touch with reality by keeping markets as open and free as possible so the right adjustments in supply and demand can take place.

On the side of what government should be doing, and often doesn't do, is actively protecting our national security on all fronts.

The pursuit by the Iranian terrorist regime of nuclear weapons goes back as far as 2002, reports The Wall Street Journal. This is one year after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Those 9/11 attacks were planned during the Clinton presidency while he was looking the other way. Those who piloted the planes into the World Trade Center learned to fly in flight schools in our country.

Under Bill Clinton's presidency, defense spending as a percent of GDP, dropped from 6.1% to 3.8%. Clinton then turned the reins of government over to George W. Bush and shortly thereafter the 9/11 attack occurred.

The Wall Street Journal documents ongoing Iranian activity to enrich uranium and develop weapons since 2002, despite the delusionary efforts of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden to do a deal with them. With the easing of sanctions under Obama and Biden, the Iranian rulers had again access to hundreds of billions to once again fund terrorism. One result was the horrific attack by Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Meanwhile, we've had four attacks over recent weeks -- in Michigan, Virginia, New York and Texas -- by homegrown terrorists with Middle Eastern ties, while the Department of Homeland Security remains closed and unfunded. This is insane.

Do we really need to wait for another 9/11?

Let's keep our country strong by keeping markets at home open and free and by being vigilant toward fanatics abroad, with money and power, who want to kill us.

Regarding short term inconveniences and unpleasantness, best to remember that freedom is not free.

Star Parker is founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Her recent book, "What Is the CURE for America?" is available now. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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