11 July 2012

Your Freedoms

Hey Gang, I was wondering if you can answer my question regarding 'freedoms.' You see, I am on the interwebz quite a bit and I see a lot of vague posts about how America is no longer free. If these sentiments are correct, then all our freedom is gone, apparently, and I am worried about accidentally breaking a new law as I go about my life behaving like a free person. Will you please tell me (anonymously is fine) what freedoms we had within the last - say - 50 years or so, which we no longer are able to enjoy? What are you not free to do, say, think or feel in this country? 

8 comments:

Erin said...

I no longer have the freedom to get on an airplane without taking off my shoes and being digitally unclothed for a random stranger. I know the answer is if you don't like it, don't fly. However, that isn't really possible and I find the whole process humiliating and dehumanizing.

Anonymous said...

Can not buy a gun to defend myself with out a back ground check 2 week wait period and yet the bad guys get to skip all that.

Can not say the pledge of allegiance in school or anything to do with God and we wonder what's happening to the morals of our kids and why each generation is worse off.

Your pal Jason r

cath c said...

what erin said, and

states chipping away at roe v wade and women's healthcare and privacy and reproductive rights via contraception.

pursuit of happiness and real equality such as marriage equality constantly under attack via introduction of bills at state and fed level to prevent passed in so many states already...

women's right to appear and speak in public hearings re: woman's health or to have the panel serving include women...

right of public peaceful assembly is being beyond chipped away since the advent of the occupy movement, right to not be abused by the police in this process...

Anonymous said...

Uh, no where in the USA do you have to wait 2 weeks for a gun. Illinois is the worst and it's 3 days for a hand gun, 24 hours for a long gun.

Hamfast said...

My kids say the pledge everyday at a public school. I've never heard a ban on kids talking about God at school either. My child comes from a home of non-believers and tells me her friends are constantly talking about God and that they pray before they eat at lunch. No one tries to stop them.

Missy said...

I feel that my freedom FROM religion is often violated. My belief is as strong as any Christian's, yet I live in a place where if I express those beliefs, then I am a social leper. Politicians, doctor's offices, my kids' daycare, everywhere it seems. It doesn't help that I live in Georgia, I know, but as backwards as it is it is still in America.

Darin said...

Here is something, The Democracy Index
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index
is an index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (a private business) that measures the state of democracy in 167 countries, of which 166 are sovereign states and 165 are UN member states. The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index is based on 60 indicators grouped in five different categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, functioning of government, political participation and political culture. The Index was first produced in 2006, with updated lists produced in 2008, 2010 and 2011.

here is 2011s list
1 Norway
2 Iceland
3 Denmark
4 Sweden
5 New Zealand
6 Australia
7 Switzerland
8 Canada
9 Finland
10 Netherlands
11 Luxembourg
12 Ireland
13 Austria
14 Germany
15 Malta 8.28
16 Czech Republic
17 Uruguay
18 United Kingdom
19 United States

It would appear that the countries that have larger widespread social programs, stricter government oversight of business and finance and agriculture, with clear division of church and state have better functioning governments with more civil liberties. It also looks like people with Viking blood just know how to run shit the best.

Miranda said...

Let's pretend: I am a corn farmer. I happen to be situated down-wind of a guy who grows Monstanto GM crops. I'm growing my own heirloom seeds. But I actually don't have the RIGHT to farm my land how I want to, because as soon as Monsanto's GM spores end up contaminating my crops, Monsanto sues my ass. Oh, and the government is rife with ex-Monsanto affiliates who ensure that Monsanto's interests are protected. Sucks to be me.