INDEPENDENCE vs. FREEDOM

Independence implies complete self sufficiency, like the fabled mountain men and survivalists.  Relying upon no one else for anything is hard to do but at the same time, it is hard to relinquish the right to be independent.  A system of free association with others requires relinquishing some independence but only with the guarantee of the freedom to retain the maximum amount of independence consistent with the good of the community.

Independent people do not agree to let others arbitrarily deprive them of any part of their independence.  The more necessary it becomes to be dependent, the less remains of their independence.  Freedom, then, is not the same as independence, since you can be free and still be dependent to some extent.  This means that even if we are "free", and we protect that freedom with all we have, those who seek power over you don't have to attack your freedom first and alarm you, but can induce you to become more and more dependent, then your freedom melts away.

The moral of this story is an ancient one.  The demagogues will destroy your independence first, with promises of a utopia, and even a small taste of it now, and then enslave you because you no longer have the ability to act independently.