Is America the world's freest nation?

[billbuckhead]

With such a high proportion of it's people in prison. With the draconian PATRIOT act monitering it's citizens. With almost all the press taken over by Corporama. I think it's time for even the most chauvinistic Americans must face the facts.

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. Nah.

In the Top 10, but not in the Top 5...

[Big Lebowski]

6. Definitely not

And it'll get worse if the Republicans get their way.

They want your body, your mind, and your money all to belong to them.

[MrScorpio]

2. Define free

When I last checked, we had to pay for everything

[swag]

3. No even slightly informed Republican (granted, they are few) would

answer "yes" to such a question.

Anyway, the answer is NO.

[CrispyQ]

4. bumper sticker:

If this is a free country then why is everything for sale?

[Darranar]

5. No way. Not even close. n/t

[hyphenate]

7. "Freest" actually

has 3 eees in it. :)

[xray s]

8. How about people who can't go into business for themselves...

...because private health insurance is too expensive?

Slaves to the corporate master, one and all.

[libodem]

9. It is a one party

Plutocracy and the constitution is being stomped on. We can't even burn the flag to protest. But, they can dance circles on the grave of the bill of rights.

[ProgressiveConn]

10. Very low when compared to other liberal democracies. nt

[JamboGuide]

12. HELL NOOOOOOOO

Fascist Govt YES. Although it DID seem were going to a SECULAR/SOCIALIST Euro style society from 64-80 and from 93-00.

[Salviati]

11. As a way to frame the debate...

with those who would attack defenders of freedom as "afraid" to go after the "terrorists" The question that we need to ask them is: "Are you brave enough to live free?" Freedom is a scary thing. Is it possible to be true to the ideal of America, if we are unable to answer with a resounding YES?

[tabasco]

13. Hell no!

A friend of mine was just stopped and ticketed by a state policeman for not wearing a seatbelt. That was the only reason for the stop! This is a police state.

The only people who could believe the US is the free-est(?) country are those who have never been to Europe, Canada, or other places where the man doesn't screw with you as much.

[demgurl]

14. We used to be free but not any more.

I hear they are planning to redo the pledge of allegiance:

I pledge allegiance to Der fuhrer
of the Fascist States of America,
and to the church for which he stands:
one world under God, indivisible,
conquering everyone in the name of Bush.

[baldguy]

15. Free? Since when?

[Lone Pawn]

16. Who's voting Aye?

I wish you could see the usernames of how people vote.

I mean, secret ballot is one thing, but on a webpoll?

[billbuckhead]

20. The right to buy ak-47's & Barrett sniper is parmount to some

The right to buy AK-47's & Barrett sniper rifles at gun shows supercede anything to some people.

[B Calm]

17. I have to vote for Holland or Sweden

[paulk]

18. the potential is there,

but it's never been realized

and we're going backward

[jbane]

19. I voted yes...

I won't let the Repukes and the Patriot Act change my opinion. I've traveled a lot and there is no doubt we still have the most free society in the world. We have slipped a little but not that much.

[guajira]

23. Bet you Haven't travelled to Cuba!!

Try that and see how free you are!!

[kodi]

21. yes

"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to beg in the streets, steal bread, or sleep under a bridge."
-- Anatole France

freedom is not just social equality, nor is it simply material quality of life. it is merely and quite profoundly a chance for limitless possibilities. and i think that america has that more than any other place.

if one wishes to get bogged down in the details, a case can be made that the examples cited in the original post can be countered by the failings of other nations, first, second, or third world. where people will contest such a review of other nations versus the US are those topics to which no agreement can be made on quantizing the "good" or "bad."

drive across america a couple of times via the back roads and you will see america's freedom (and yes, so too poverty). people are doing so many different things with their lives and that is because of their freedom.

i am no pollyanna, but america has a great deal of good things about it and i do believe we have it in us to be that shining city upon a hill john winthrop mentioned four centuries ago.

its up to us, and yes, again, we do have the freedom to make it happen.

[manic expression]

22. Not at all

And we never were.

It isn't just the PATRIOT act, it is much more than that. It is the outright oppression and inequity seen with Native Americans, African Americans and other minorities in our country (they don't call them "ghettos" for nothing). There are two parties with relatively identical ideals (please, the Democratic party is at best centrist), and nothing else is allowed in the "discussion". Furthermore, corporations and business do have immense influence in these parties. Only the rich can hold office (realistically). Voting itself is quite suspect. The right to free assembly is all but a distant memory, as is the right to a fair trial and unjust detention (and we should not be satisfied with the original bill of rights, we should be expanding them).

Another facet to this is not outright oppression, but equally strong undertones. Alternate opinions and truths are ignored and/or silenced. By restricting a movement's voice, it is the same as restricting its existence.

[bemildred]

24. Fuck no. But we can fix that. nt