Is America the Freest Country in the World? (generation, global warming, soldiers) - Page 12 - City-Data Forum

58robbo · 03-05-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elamigo

So am correc to interpret your comment that everywhere else is worse than the U.S. then?

With that interpretation the U.S. may not be the freest but the best deal in town then when comparing with the rest of the world where you would not like to run to. It may not be perfect but not that bad then.

You have a great day.
El Amigo

no, it's different. having said that, the lesser of two evils is evil nonetheless

elamigo · 03-05-2010, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 58robbo

no, it's different. having said that, the lesser of two evils is evil nonetheless

Ok, so with that in mind, it is like looking at the glass half empty or half full also. Which way you want to gauge things is the difference I guess.

It is a matter of what you consider evil or what is better.

You have a great day.
El Amigo

Botev1912 · 03-05-2010, 10:28 AM

I think there is more freedom in Europe. The only American city where you can drink on the streets is Las Vegas. Why? You can't gamble online in USA. Why? You can do whatever you want where you are 18... but you can't have a beer!

58robbo · 03-05-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botev1912

I think there is more freedom in Europe. The only American city where you can drink on the streets is Las Vegas. Why? You can't gamble online in USA. Why? You can do whatever you want where you are 18... but you can't have a beer!

at street level it certainly is that way. having said that, in the states, the constitution provides a few alleys to address overarching govt whereas european laws do not. the mere fact that we've done very little to address the 'nanny state' is the real problem

RememberMee · 03-05-2010, 06:51 PM

I think many in this thread mix up freedom with "opportunity". Realistically speaking you have only two freedoms in this world - freedom to breath or to commit suicide. Everything else is "opportunity" that depends on all kinds of factors, survival instinct and social constraints being #1 and 2 . Freedom of speech is not freedom, it's an opportunity. One carefully weighs all kinds of thing before opening his mouth. If one feels that threats related to opening his mouth are not endangering his desired level of comfortable wellbeing, he may exercise opportunity for free speech. If his job is at stake, that's quite another matter. Just an example.

Freedom is not an opportunity and opportunity is not freedom. Opportunity is everywhere, freedom is the most rare "jewel".

Braunwyn · 03-05-2010, 06:52 PM

I don't know if it's still the case, but back in the early-mid 90s I lived in key west and people were allowed to drink booze on the street providing it was in a plastic cup.

RememberMee · 03-05-2010, 06:54 PM

In many aspects of everyday life Soviet citizenry was so much more free than your average American. The other aspects sucked arse. How to weigh all those aspects in all their entirety is the question without universal answer.

58robbo · 03-05-2010, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RememberMee

In many aspects of everyday life Soviet citizenry was so much more free than your average American. The other aspects sucked arse. How to weigh all those aspects in all their entirety is the question without universal answer.

going back and overruling about 100years of legislation would be a good start. govts are notoriously quick at creating rules for non-problems.
a good example is all the climate legislation they want to pass. that is a non-problem.
you then get people talking about an 'obesity epidemic' and politicians start proposing everything from banning transfats, to monitoring salt content of fast food, to wanting to tax sugar etc. in a free country, you wanna get fat? go ahead. it's your life, your body just don't expect other people to fit the bill for your medical.
the the govts of the world got together to discuss the swine flu epidemic. again, another minor problem which was not helped by govt largesse.
recreational drugs, another non problem actually made worse by govt action.
financial regulaions which encouraged investor apathy just ask anyone who invested with madoff

jtur88 · 03-08-2010, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred314X

Here's one area where America is certainly free: if you don't like it here, nobody's holding a gun to your head and forcing you to stay.

That is true of every country in the world except Cuba, Myanmar and North Korea. But if you want to use your USA passport to go to one of those countries, there IS somebody waiting at the gate to arrest you when you return to the "freest country in the world". The USA is the only western country that will arrest its citizens if they dare to travel to a country that is not on the approved list of destinations.

There are currently 17 countries on the list of those in which "free" Americans are restricted by US law, and can be arrested when arriving home if activities abroad are not in conformity with US Treasury Department approved "American interests".

GregW · 03-08-2010, 10:14 AM

Remember "Approved American Interests" are always determined by the financiers. The only real freedom we have in this country is to work for a profit making company on their terms and conditions unless you can live off the work of others. I would like it to be everybody works or nobody works. There would be no living off investments.