World-line of Photon World-line of Polarizer Locality, Independence and the Pro-liberty Bell

Bell’s Theorem requires the assumption that the values of hidden variables are statistically independent of future measurement settings. This Independence Assumption (IA) is normally taken for granted, though Bell himself sometimes considered relaxing it, as a way of defending locality. On balance he regarded such a move as even less attractive than non-locality, however—this despite the fact that he himself believed that non-locality conflicts with the orthodox interpretation of Special Relativity—for he thought that if we gave up IA we would have to abandon the belief that we are free.