A definition of free will? [View All]

[opstachuck]

I'm curious as to what any of your thoughts might be regarding the existence of free will, and how this might relate to your political viewpoint.

For a few years, I've had a running feud with some friends about this issue and I maintain that free will is an illusion feuled by a desire to be in control of your situation. And for the life of me i can't wrap my head around the law of thermodynamics that states every action has an equal and opposite reaction. If this is true on the atomic or molecular level, how can it be that through the course of more complex layers of interactions a free will emerges that can change the destiny of the individual?

In regards to politics, I think a belief in free will can be detrimental to the formulation of public policy because it can, in the mind of the politician, make it so much easier to justify the problems of society by considering them to be problems with the individual. It then seems to logically follow that places which are more religious would have citizens who politically would be more conservative and opposed to government programs which are meant to help less fortunate people (ie welfare, universal health care, public education, etc.). Pat Robertson and Billy Graham's rants come to mind.

Okay, just a few thoughts. I'd like to hear yours.