Trying to burn off the full load of fuel.
To expand a little more. Suppose that you paid cash for your house? And you were smart enough to buy one of the few slivers of land left that doesn't have a home owners association with fees and rules.
Do you still have the freedom to own and use your land? No. The county and city will tax your land. If you don't pay taxes on land/home that you own outright, the government will seize your land.
Suppose that you pay your taxes diligently. Can you now own/use your land? Unlikely. Most cities and counties limit the use of your land. Your house has to be at least a certain square footage. You can only have one house on your property. You can't own a horse or a bunch of chickens.
Maybe, you have found a rare patch of real estate that has few county/city rules governing the use of your property. Are you now free? No. The federal government has laws about installing electrical and plumbing, how far your septic tank can be from the property line, whether you are allowed to dig a well, or use pesticides on your crops, the types of materials from which your house can be built, who you can hire to build your house, and how much they must be paid….
Our freedoms are disappearing quickly…
I think that one of the downsides of being here is the loss of fictional entertainment. I have been so immersed in backs stories and symbolism, that I can't watch any movie or TV show without having the plot ruined by counting the symbolic moments.