Thread: Is the U.S. still "the land of the free"?

Originally Posted by lizzie

Maybe he forgot that we have congress and a president who is pen-happy with legislation.

We've had that for 236 years.

Originally Posted by Mickey Shane

It's as free as you make it.

That's a pretty ideology but not exactly true as a fact. What about all that legislation, numerous rules, regulations, tax codes, subsidies, bailouts, etc.?

I also have around 100 countries under my belt, I have lived in countries like Libya and Zimbabwe, and I voted “not really”. Yes, it is still better than most countries, but depending on the category, we are rarely still number one. Even freedom of speech, one of the arenas in which we were always the leader, is coming under continuous attack. Free speech zones? Seriously America???

So yes, we are more free than most countries but those freedoms are declining.

When I read the answers to this sort of question I can't help but rephrase it as, "Do white fairly well off men feel we are still the best nation in terms of individual freedom?"

Blacks, and women would say the good old days were not so good.

People living in the territories may have had more personal freedom but also little if any say in national issues.

Many cowtowns had severe firearm restrictions.

Big companies ran roughshod over the legal but immigrant citizens. Big City politics was as rigged as a carnie 3 card monty game.

Corporations may bemoan the EPA but I like clean water and no acid rain.

I certainly don't like the so-called Patriot Act, but our history is littered with Alien and Sedition Acts along with suspending basic rights.

I find the travel restriction to Cuba asinine.

So I figure you have to be very selective in the points you make for or against the argument we have lost some of our freedoms to be overall less free.

Originally Posted by Canell

That's a pretty ideology but not exactly true as a fact. What about all that legislation, numerous rules, regulations, tax codes, subsidies, bailouts, etc.?

Those things are for other people.

There are 10 countries with higher standards of health, living, distribution of wealth, cost of living, etc, etc, etc...

also you can drink beer on the street in certain brutal communist dictatorships.

but will get busted with a beer bottle on your porch in the burbs...

it's not a terrible place, the usa... just behind some sortof psychological barrier and possibly showered with demented waves from the sky that make everyone think it isnt over lol.

Originally Posted by MKULTRABOY

There are 10 countries with higher standards of health, living, distribution of wealth, cost of living, etc, etc, etc...

also you can drink beer on the street in certain brutal communist dictatorships.

but will get busted with a beer bottle on your porch in the burbs...

it's not a terrible place, the usa... just behind some sortof psychological barrier and possibly showered with demented waves from the sky that make everyone think it isnt over lol.

LOL - I'm not about to boil this down to where you can and can't drink. LOL

Originally Posted by Navy Pride

Hey Redress mark the time down, we almost agree on something.....

Oh Jebus! I think I'm going to be sick. Would you two just get a room?

Originally Posted by JayDubya

When I start to doubt I start to read what people from other countries have to say about freedom of speech or freedom of assembly, shudder, and go back to realizing that the answer is "we're still pretty okay, yeah."

Freedom of speech? As in Free speech zones? Freedom of assembly? Not so much. Freedom of movement? Try flying or driving a car through Tennessee. We could go on and on but it "ain't what it used to be." Either we are more free or less free than we once were. Most will say "Less free but,..." and then start talking about terrorism, the borders, war on drugs or some similar propaganda fed to them by the government." Hog wash.

LOL - I'm not about to boil this down to where you can and can't drink. LOL

Sorry can't resist. How free can you be when you are considered mature enough to select who runs the country but not mature enough to have a beer?