Freedom is a theme common to both capitalism and democracy. But freedom doesn't exist without its antithesis. The freedom to do something can't exist without the accompanying freedom to refrain from doing that same thing. In the United States, both economic and political freedoms are highly valued. Nevertheless, freedom is not absolute. The rule of law is the means by which "the people" exert the authority of the government to compel "the people" to conform their conduct to certain standards. Nevertheless, while majority view is often the basis of the rule of law, it is not necessarily an accurate moral compass. This raises one of the central questions of our economic and political systems. When should we get to use the rule of law to tell others what to do? That is, when do we have the moral authority to use the rule of law to tell others what to do? In contrast, to what extent do we have a moral obligation to exercise self-restraint? That is, to what extent do we have a moral obligation to refrain from using the rule of law to impose our views on others with whom we disagree?