Today is Independence Day, but you really have to ask "Just how independent are we?"

Granted, as citizens of the United States of America, we're free from the political and military control of empires of the past: Great Britain, the Soviet Union, even (if you go back a while) France.

You'll occasionally get someone blather on about the need for "energy independence," a fiction if there ever was one. But how about other forms of independence that we could benefit from?

Say, for example, some state independence from the national government. I'm not advocating any new wars of secession, along the lines of John C. Calhoun. But far too often, state politicians are enticed by federal matching funds, which prompt ill-advised spending. Boondoggle mass transit projects and Medicaid expansion come to mind. A state initiates a project because it is spending "only" half of the total cost, thinking it a bargain. But a bad idea bought at half-price is still a bad idea.

The problem lies not only with carrots, but sticks. Congress takes money from families and businesses in the states, and then offers it back to state governments--but with strings or distorted priorities. The federal transportation budget is a prime example. In effect, national politicians make decisions (seat belt laws, drunk driving laws, the allocation of highway dollars) that ought to be left to state politicians. In short, states could benefit from some increased independence from the national government.

Or how about some personal independence from government at all levels? On average, Americans spend one quarter to one third of each year working for government. And that's just to pay for taxes. Add in the cost of regulations, and the burden is more significant.

Finally, how about some independence from the political society, and more reliance on personal, voluntary philanthropy? The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs reminds us (PDF) that today we ought to thank the members, past and present, of our armed forces for their work in providing us independence from foreign rulers. But we should also, says Brett A. Magbee, thank "the generous neighbor next door" for the private help we've received along the way. When we cease depending on the voluntary cooperation of individuals and start expecting a government agency to meet every need, we've lost a significant form of independence.