Is America the Freest Country in the World? (politician, party, economic)

[jertheber]

Right from the start the American notion of freedom was mostly an illusion, the federalist papers provide some insight to the intentions of the "founding fathers" who were seeking their economic freedom from England. They were educated and moneyed men, shrewd enough to get the low class of men to do the dirty work for them by routing the Crown's armies, but after the revolutionary war these poor men were sent packing, no longer needed by the planter class they were efffectively cut out from the democratic process that demanded land ownership as a prerequisite to voting.

It's been said that free men pursue their continued freedom with a democratic vigilance, I think most would agree that we have little say in the government, we have two political parties sworn to uphold the power and position of the wealthiest American's often to the detriment of the masses. How that construct can insure our freedom is beyond me. The questions that arise from the unequal representation in our government are now looked upon by government and those it serves as a nuisance, free men can't be ignored, but our government ignores us every day laughing at our collective impotence, unafraid of our rights as free men to challenge the laws that make us poorer and less free.

The granting of a minimal inclusion in the new countrys wealth was the real brilliance of the founders, the rich took and kept the Lions share of wealth, allowing the low men to farm the worst of their properties, cheating them with the advent of paper money, cheating them in the courts where the powerful sat as Judges, putting them in debtors prisons when the paper money they had became useless and they couldn't pay their debts to the gentrified class of merchants.

America was never a place to be free from the tyranny of the merchant class, Madison, Jefferson, Washington, Hamilton, were all wealthy men, the Walmarts of the day, it was only their own freedom from taxation that they sought, and like today's society the low men fought and died to make that a reality. As a matter of fact, our corporate/government is looking for a few free men right now, "we" need to get some oil from a far off place, come on boys, rally to the cause............

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by jtur88

I just saw a TV commercial in which the CEO of Sprint said this is the freest couintry in the world. Most Americans probably believe that. But, is it really?

What don't Americans believe?
America is a free country, but certainly not the epitome of freedom.

[yankinscotland]

No. It's just a con so Americans can feel superior.

[hilgi]

Originally Posted by jtur88

North Koreans are perfectly free, too, as long as they abide by all the regulations. Next time you visit a state park (where you aren't even free to enter your publicly owned land until you pay the day-use fee just to get in), go to the bulletin board and look at the regulations. Take along your magnifying glass. (There are still four states in which you are free to wander in and out of the state parks that you own: IL MO NC PA.

Exactly, we are turning into the authoritarian paradise that many people desire.

[elamigo]

Originally Posted by jtur88

I just saw a TV commercial in which the CEO of Sprint said this is the freest couintry in the world. Most Americans probably believe that. But, is it really?

I think this is one of the subjects that in order to come up with some type of consensus, if that is possible, is to set a criteria in defining "Free".

What type of freedom are we talking about?

Are talking freedom in more than one area?

We could be in some areas and not so in others is my best answer.

You have a great day.
El Amigo

[hilgi]

Originally Posted by jertheber

America was never a place to be free from the tyranny of the merchant class, Madison, Jefferson, Washington, Hamilton, were all wealthy men, the Walmarts of the day, it was only their own freedom from taxation that they sought, and like today's society the low men fought and died to make that a reality. As a matter of fact, our corporate/government is looking for a few free men right now, "we" need to get some oil from a far off place, come on boys, rally to the cause............

[SIZE=3]Jefferson was no fan of banks or corporations and believed in a land value tax. [/SIZE][SIZE=3]http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff1325.htm[/SIZE][SIZE=3] [/SIZE]
"I hope we shall... crush in its birth the aristocracy of our
moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our
government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of
our country." --Thomas Jefferson to George Logan, 1816.

"Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is
to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the
higher portions of property in geometrical progression as they
rise." --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1785.

[Coolhand68]

With each passing year the United States feels like a giant HOA. Regardless, still the best place to live IMHO.

[elnina]

Statements that something in America is the biggest, bests, freest, and whatever #1 in the WORLD always put a smile on my face.
Like the CEO of Sprint statement. Did he have been everywhere and saw everything in the WORLD? Is he an authority in that subject? Or " it's just a con so Americans can feel superior"?

[crazyfacedjenkins]

Originally Posted by GregW

All of the freedoms you cite come attached to a substantial amount of danger. You don't mention the chicken bus falling off the road because the government did not require the brakes to be inspected. You didn't mention that some of those goodies for sale may be contaminated with very toxic bacteria because the kitchens were not regulated and inspected. Or the water supply could be contaminated because the private owner didn’t bother with disinfection.

All the suffocating regulation you complain about are the result of somebody creating and/or selling things that hurt or killed people. A masseuse that does not know what they are doing can literally break your back through ignorance. An unlicensed electrician can rig the bathroom wiring in a way that could electrocute you. A restaurant could be supplied with contaminated meat and make you sick.

All these regulations are in place to prevent the consumer from getting hurt by accident or ignorance. If you are so enamored of the freedom to ride an unmaintained bus on "Death's Highway" in Columbia just go and do it. Do not bring the lax road and vehicle standards to this country. We have gotten past that nonsense.

The economic term for all this regulation is called “internalizing costs” and most of the regulated businesses hate it because it means they will have to pay instead of passing on the costs or the risks to their customers. That hurts the profit for a givin amount of work.

wrong. most are there to benefit the current players and create barriers of entry for the little guy. Hell, many of the things you mention with medicine can be traced back to the racist xenophobic roots of the AMA. If you think regulations are saving you, you are sadly mistaken.

[GregW]

I stand by my essay. We regulate because the regulations set a minimun standard for the safety of all regardless of the profit of the few.