The Mugwumpery

Freedom, if it means anything, means the right to make choices society disapproves of and thinks unwise, provided those choices don’t violate others’ rights.

If it doesn’t mean that, whatever does it mean?

Serious question.

All societies, including totalitarian ones, permit socially approved choices. Making only approved choices is simply obeying rules. What distinguishes free societies is the right of individuals to make disapproved choices – provided only that they don’t violate the legitimate and equal rights of others.