Are We A Free Country?

[Brianna]

This seems appropriate for Memorial Day weekend. Thousands of American veterans made the supreme sacrifice to guarantee our freedom as a country. We must honor them by safeguarding our liberty. With this in mind, do you think that we are a truly free country on 5/24/15? Please explain your answer.

[BeerBaron]

No, Murica isn't even the "freest" country in north america, Canada is.

Both economically - for all you that for some reason think Canada is socialist

http://www.heritage.org/index/

And personally

https://index.rsf.org/#!/

http://blog.skepticallibertarian.com...y-the-numbers/

“The United States is the freest country on earth.”

It is a comforting story Americans tell ourselves when we feel our position in the world challenged, or when chest-thumping nationalists mount the platform to brag about “American exceptionalism”, or when we need to excuse our behavior internationally.

But is it true? How does the United States stack up against other countries in terms of governance and human freedom?

Press Freedom: #23

#23 — Freedom House 2013 Global Press Freedom Rankings (out of 197 countries).

#32 — Reporters Without Borders 2013 Press Freedom Index (out of 179 countries).

Civil Liberties: #45

#45 — Economist Intelligence Unit 2012 Democracy Index (out of 167 countries).

Corruption: #19

#19 — Transparency International 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index (out of 177 countries).

Democracy: #12

#12 — Global Democracy Ranking 2013 Report (out of 115 countries).

#21 — Economist Intelligence Unit 2012 Democracy Index (out of 167 countries).

Economic Freedom: #10

#10 — Heritage Foundation 2013 Index of Economic Freedom (out of 177 countries).

#19 — Frasier Institute 2013 Economic Freedom of the World (out of 154 countries).

[Prisoner Of Ice]

Freedom is not that relevant unless you have protection from outside forces, whether they are economic, physical threats or immigration. We have a government that pays lip service to the least common denominator liberties but fails its basic duties as a state.

[Brianna]

No, Murica isn't even the "freest" country in north america, Canada is.

Both economically - for all you that for some reason think Canada is socialist

http://www.heritage.org/index/

And personally

https://index.rsf.org/#!/

http://blog.skepticallibertarian.com...y-the-numbers/

It may surprise you to know that many Americans wonder about our states of capitalism and freedom. Most people realize that things are changing in ways that worry us. I'm familiar with our rankings on the world freedom charts, and they don't surprise as many people as you might imagine. People are quite aware that we're headed in the wrong direction and that the next generation may have even less liberty. It could be that Canadians notice the same trends and share the same concerns.

[Brianna]

Freedom is not that relevant unless you have protection from outside forces, whether they are economic, physical threats or immigration. We have a government that pays lip service to the least common denominator liberties but fails its basic duties as a state.

There's no doubt about that. Look at the porous borders. Look at the recent trade deal that was passed in secrecy. Then, there's the constant antagonism of other countries, making it much less likely that we'll create and maintain alliances that will benefit the whole world. I think these three aspects of national security are more important than collecting and storing logs of all of our communications.

[BeerBaron]

It may surprise you to know that many Americans wonder about our states of capitalism and freedom. Most people realize that things are changing in ways that worry us. I'm familiar with our rankings on the world freedom charts, and they don't surprise as many people as you might imagine. People are quite aware that we're headed in the wrong direction and that the next generation may have even less liberty. It could be that Canadians notice the same trends and share the same concerns.

Even if people wonder about the true state of the nation, it doesn't really matter. America is culturally spastic, over reactive and child like. The funniest debate is healthcare, even when you show americans they get a low standard compared to other nations and pay the most in the world for it, they just don't get it.

And I say that as an American citizen, and a veteran.

[Brianna]

Even if people wonder about the true state of the nation, it doesn't really matter. America is culturally spastic, over reactive and child like. The funniest debate is healthcare, even when you show americans they get a low standard compared to other nations and pay the most in the world for it, they just don't get it.

And I say that as an American citizen, and a veteran.

I agree that we need health care reform. Obamacare is an abomination, though.

[Dr. Robotnik the Subbotnik]

Americans are not free.

[Brianna]

Americans are not free.

How so?

[Dr. Robotnik the Subbotnik]

How so?

Because capitalism. Or rather capitalism out of control.

Businessmen control your politics...your media...your life...greedy businessmen who don't give a shit about you. Capitalism can be good but must be tamed like a wild animal. Out of control, Capitalism can = dictatorship (of the businessmen). The U.S. is at this stage.