this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2024
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Anyone living with other people is less free than they would be alone, because their actions would only affect themselves. Nobody who lives somewhere that has a deli is totally and completely free, which is what the lyrics are poking fun at.
I guess it depends on definitions.
To me, what might be called "absolute freedom", i.e. freedom from consequences isn't a thing at all, no sense even talking about it. You can't live alone, you are surrounded by microorganisms which will exact consequences on you if you feel you have the freedom to cut your own arm. You're surrounded by animals that don't think you have absolute freedom to kick them in the nuts. You don't have the freedom to stop breathing.
Whether it's a bacterium, a lion, or a "deli owner" doesn't much matter.
Freedom as I see it is basically do whatever you want, but expect that others will too, and if you harm them, they might defend themselves and/or harm you back so it's better not to. This basically equates to anarchism, and I don't see why something one might call a "deli" couldn't exist. It's not the capitalist aspects that make a deli what it is, it's the sandwiches, pickles, and environment.