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In 1941, FDR defined the "four freedoms" as freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Does that come close to what you are thinking about?
Each one of those 'freedoms' could eliminate a few countries based on your individual interpretation. Freedom from want is difficult to achieve. Universal healthcare, educational opportunity, and a social/economic safety net would be a step in that direction. Secular countries would possibly have more freedom of worship than countries with a state religion even if other religions are tolerated. Freedom of speech and freedom from fear are somewhat connected. In the USA you can pretty much say what you please, write letters to the editor or publish what you will. That doesn't mean that someone won't throw a rock through your window or bully your kids. That probably is true in other places as well. We all wish certain people would sit down and shut up but the level of tolerance for other ideas or viewpoints would be an important measure of freedom.
I haven't travelled enough to be a good judge of countries on the list except that I noticed a difference when I first travelled to Europe and experienced countries without the strong "Puritan Ethic" that we have (almost genetically) in the USA. Folks seemed freer to do what they wanted without self-imposed limitations. If people wanted to walk or dance in a fountain or let their kids do it - they did. Public displays of affection and increased social interaction were readily apparent. That translated into a sort of personal freedom that was missing, or diminished, here.
Social freedom is all relative. There are certain ideas that are always "wrong" and unable to be freely expressed. In Uganda, supporting homosexuals is an outright "wrong" idea, and the society will ostracize you as a gay-lover for doing so. In Holland, supporting the idea that marriage is for a man and a woman is outright "wrong", and the society will ostracize you as a gay-hater for doing so. In each place, there are ideas you just don't express, and in some cases the government will get involved. A truly free society would be one where you can truly express all ideas and at least the notion of them would be tolerated. This kind of society has yet to be achieved by humans.
Economic freedom, on the other hand, is not relative. The government taking your taxes isn't freedom, no matter you look at it. A free citizen or business would pay no taxes, or at least very low taxes. Freedom would mean that you can use the money that you earned as you wish, rather than handing it over to someone else. Ideally, economic freedom would mean the ability to say to the government "I am going to use the money that I earned as I choose; I'll pay you taxes if I see fit to do so".
Finland and Denmark are two the most economically free countries in Europe, after the UK, Ireland and Switzerland. Socially all Nordic Countries are as free as Canada, which is often labeled as very free. Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Finland are in fact a bit more free than Canada. Sweden a bit less.
So much for "oppressive Socialism".
(I voted for "another country" in protest because my country isn't even on the list. NZ gets my real vote.)
edit:
When it's a good poll, like personal or press freedom Finland is always in the top along with the other Nordic countries. But when it's a negative poll, like suicides, traffic accidents or drinking, Finland is always with France and Belgium somewhere in the middle. Wonder why.
Conclusion: The Scandinavian monarchies are uptight and lack Joie de vivre.
Last edited by Ariete; 03-03-2014 at 01:23 AM..
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