Freedoms of the USA - Extra ones?

[canikickit]

I have seen a lot of people say that the USA is the "freest" country in the western world, and similar grandiose statements.

So what freedoms are the rest of us missing out on?

The only one I can think of is the right to bare arms, which is not a right here in Ireland. I'm not too sure on the exact specifics of it, but there are more restrictions on that here. People can have guns for hunting and the like - but I think hand guns aren't allowed.

So other than guns, what is there?

[Pete]

You can bear arms in Canada if you register them properly. So we are not missing that one.

[CruelVerdad]

"the USA is the "freest" country in the western world"
I don´t think that, their problem is that they dont whant to realize that USA "seems" to be free... but it´s NOT.
In many places they have discrimination, they have a lot of people that are really poor...
Many call the US a place were you can make your dreams come true... the only ones that say that are the rich ones, or the ignorant...

[kelvin90701]

I am free to dance around my house in my boxer shorts while playing "I am too sexy...." I am free to do so with all the curtains open, but I do not. (that is leave the curtains open).

There is no law restricting my freedom to dance in the house half naked to "I am too sexy...." with the curtains open. I am restricted by what the neighbors might think.

There is a difference between what you are officially restricted to do and what is impossed upon you by social attitudes.


(Edited by kelvin90701 at 8:31 pm on Mar. 30, 2003)

[synthesis]

That's an amusing observation, but I don't see how that answers his question. How, exactly, is the U.S. freer than any other country in the Western world?

[kelvin90701]

Quote: from DyerMaker on 8:22 pm on Mar. 30, 2003
That's an amusing observation, but I don't see how that answers his question. How, exactly, is the U.S. freer than any other country in the Western world?

Well I guess it does not. My notion of CCCP Moscow, is if I did that in my appartment. I could expect a visit from the secret police to make sure everything was OK.

[Anonymous]

I believe so called "hate speach" is outlawed in many european countries. Why, I think it was the French who wanted to prosecute the owners of a site that sold nazi memorabilia which happened to be based in the U.S.

Also notice their "right to work" laws which prevent businessmen from firing their own workers.

(Edited by Dark Capitalist at 1:32 am on Mar. 31, 2003)

[Ghost Writer]

This is a good question. I have to go right now, but I will be sure to come back, and defend that very true statement.

[synthesis]

I believe so called "hate speach" is outlawed in many european countries. I doubt that's what patriots are referring to when they say that America is the freest nation in the word. But yeah, I thought of that too. Although, some guy in either Idaho or Ohio just got five years for calling a black guy a 'nigger.'

[Anti communist]

This is still the freeest nation but it's losing freedom every day because of political correctness. A good example is the guy with the 5 yrs for saying the N word. It sounds a little extreme, do you have a link to that?

I'll bet that if this really happened, the prosecution went with the "trying to take away his civil rights" prosecution. However, if a black guy calls a white guy a cracker, nothing happens!!!!!! What a double standard.

[canikickit]

So, another freedom is the freedom to slander. There are no laws against libel in the US, is this true?

The question is, whether or not this is a positive addition to a "balance of freedom"? That's obviously a matter of debate, not necessarily with a conclusive answer.

Here (http://www.bailii.org/ie/legis/num_act/da196199/) is a link for these laws as applicable in Ireland, for those of you who are interested. I don't feel like trying to decipher that legal mumbo jumbo right now.

Is it a boon to a society, that people can publish total falsities about others, which are damaging to their reputation and livelyhood?

[Hampton]

However, if a black guy calls a white guy a cracker, nothing happens!!!!!! What a double standard.

When blacks own white slaves then you can talk about a double standard.

[canikickit]

It's amazing - so many times i have heard people from the US say "we are the freest nation on earth", and yet when you ask a simple question about why they are free, there is nothing conclusive. One would think that with your popular culture bashing you over the head with how free the US is, you'd know something about why it is so much more free.

On "American Idol" I was utterly disgusted to see those idiots singing the most ridiculous song I've heard ever. It made me feel like smashin the TV.

"I'm proud to be an American, because at least I know I'm free" - "God bless the U-S-A" -

- They're the lyrics I remember - fucking sickening. It really is twisted that they could stand up there and sing such a pretentious song. Pride is one of the greatest difficulties for mankind to overcome - it's part of the reason we are in the dire straits that we are in.

[Pete]

Many American patriotic songs are British patriotic songs with different lyrics. Such as "God bless America" is "God save the queen"

[Xvall]

Comrade Dyer:

Although, some guy in either Idaho or Ohio just got five years for calling a black guy a 'nigger.'

Are you serious. For some reason I really doubt that. Stormfront talks about burning little 'niglets' all the time and no one ever does anything to them. White Supremacist groups rally all the time; they recieve police protection. I just find that a little farfetched that the government will just decide to do that all of a sudden. Half of the nation's population should be in jail by those standards.

Anti communist:

This is still the freeest nation but it's losing freedom every day because of political correctness.

Really? I always thought of political correctness as more of a social issue than a legislative one. I am unaware of any laws that allow people to be put in jail for their racist, homophobic, or otherwise counter-productive deregatory statements. I hardly see how political correctness is taking away your freedoms.

A good example is the guy with the 5 yrs for saying the N word. It sounds a little extreme, do you have a link to that?

Like I stated to Dyer, I really doubt that. The only way I could see that possible is if the man did something illegal; like assaulting the man after making that statement, or refusing to hire a person on the basis of the amount of melanin present in their skin.

However, if a black guy calls a white guy a cracker, nothing happens!!!!!! What a double standard.

This is your silly little non-sensical suburban opinion. The same legal action is taken when a 'black guy' calls a 'white guy' a cracker as is when a 'white guy' calls a 'black guy' a nigger. If someone says something like that on the street, unfortunately, there is absolutely no legal action that can be taken against the individuals. Likely, the two will get into a fight, and one will be charged with assault. I am not quite sure what you are trying to get at. In case you didn't notice, the majority of the people in judicial and legislative branch are 'white'. I highly doubt that they are being biased against people of their own ethnic background.

[hawarameen]

in the same way that in iraq i was brought up singing i love saddam songs and reading books about how great saddam and iraq is, in america they are fed propaganda from an early age about the land of the free, god bless america etc..

[Exploited Class]

As far as France not allowing that website, it wasn't an attack on freedom of speech, that is not allowing the selling or buying of Nazi Paraphnilla(sp?) within the borders of the country.

No more different than America not allowing the sales of Marijuana or cocaine within its borders. Or not allowing the sale of human organs. Its just a restriction on sales, and that is what the website was doing. Big difference than stopping freedom of speech.

And as Norm pointed out in another thread america doesn't always have freedom of speech. Many people in WW1 and WW2 have been hit with The U.S. Sedition Act of 1918.

So you are free to say what you want unless they make a law banning it for any reason they seem fit. Now you might think that when a war is on then you have to shut up, but it is in times of war when freedom of speech is most neccessary. Making it convienent for the powers ot be to do something like wage a war then arrest people trying to stop it. That is a limitation of freedom.

Books, they have banned so many books in America. They have either made it illegal to sale certain books, or they have passed dummy laws making it illegal to transport certain books through the U.S. Mail.

I don't think America has any more freedoms than any of the other western countries. If anybody has more freedoms than other countries, it is corporations.

[canikickit]

So, we can conclude that the media of the US is lying once again.

[peaccenicked]

The US media does not lie or use propaganda.
It uses disinformation. In other words it fabricates in the interests of National Security. And thats OK...:wink:

If we say we are the freeest country in the world then why not join the marines.

[von Mises]

If you are true believer in liberty, the greatest treath is in the whitehouse.

The US is more free compared to European countries when you look at the amount of GDP consumed by the government or different laws. For instance, here in Holland we have a constitution were all amendments have something like "unless limited by the law to....". Or we cannot go to court to tell a judge that a newly issued law is against our constitution, thus allowing the government to freely do what they want in limiting our freedom to do whatever we want.

But at least here marihuana is somewhat legalized, since everybody should have the right to screw their own bodies.