Island Tales

Imagine an island. Imagine there are a hundred people living on it. Imagine ten of these people are free men, and the other ninety are slaves. Does this sound like a free society?

Now imagine a different island. On this island, all 100 are free men, but ten of them own all the land on the island. The other ninety have to somehow satisfy one of the ten to earn the privilege of existing on this island, let alone making their living off it... or learn to swim. Does this sound like a free society? How much different does it sound from the first example?

Let us imagine another. On this island, the Ten own 50% of the land on the island. Another twenty own another 30%. 20% of the land is unclaimed... for a reason. The other seventy must either eke out a living on the 20% margin, or satisfy one of the Twenty and Ten in order to make use of the good locations. Does this sound like a free society?

What do you suppose would happen to the lifestyles of the bottom seventy were twenty more people to shipwreck on the island? How about the lifestyles of the top ten?

Imagine the second island, but the Ten have been overthrown. The people of this island now fearfully cut down anyone who is more productive than normal for fear he may become a new Tenner. Does this sound like a free society?

Now imagine another island. On this island, 100% of the land is regarded as being owned by all in collective. People can claim and put to use unclaimed land at will. When multiple people wish to make use of the same land, a fifty-year lease is sold to one of the parties at auction, with the proceeds distributed to the other 99. Otherwise, people only get out what they put in... what they produce or receive from others willingly (either in trade or as a gift). Does this sound like a free society?