Question Home

Position:Home>Philosophy> Are we really free in America?


Question: Are we really free in America!?
We have freedom of speech and the press but these are infringed almost daily!. If our government doesn't uphold the constitution isn't our only action to revolt!? Doesn't the Right to bear arms give us the right to rebel if that happens!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Freedom is simply subjective and to be free some boundaries are simple necessity!. Of course these must be coherent and incorporate the will of the populace!. The biggest problem is defining 'Freedom'!. How would we define freedom!.

If we compare to others countries around the world, there is no doubt we have freedoms that majority in the world don't have!. We are free to express our views, freedom of religion, democratic system etc!. The problem is once defined, and we know what freedoms we are entitled and are agreed upon!. Once those freedoms are violated and we are denied those freedoms, that is when the issue of being free on not free becomes an issue!. How each situation has an impact on our free way of life!.

I in turn completely agree with the blatant violation of the constitution ie 'Patriot act' and 'FISA'!. It is abhorred!. The problem is by manipulating the masses these lack of freedoms have been sold as necessity!. So huge chunk of people see nothing wrong with handing our freedoms to already corrupt and power hungry authority!. Then it is not the people taking away our freedoms but us who are solely to blame!.

Our we making our voices heard!. What exactly are we doing about it!. Do we even bother!. So it is us to blame as it us the populace are not making sure we demand the freedom the constitution entitle us!. We are very worried of losing our freedoms but have done nothing about it!. When we would start doing something about it, when the reality kicks in it'll be too late! Same old patterns!. You Never, Never, let a plant grow into a tree!. If you do then one day we might end up eating its bitter fruit!

"When the government fears the people, there is liberty!. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny!."
~ Thomas Jefferson

Perhaps it is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged against provisions against danger, real or pretended from abroad!.
~ (James Madison)

A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored!. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever!.
~ (John Adams)

A popular Government without popular information, or the means of acquiring, it is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy, or perhaps both!. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives!.
~ (James Madison)
Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm not American, so please pardon the intrusion !.!.!.

Freedoms are limited, they always have been!. They are mostly limited by three things

1) Other peoples freedoms and rights - it is a balancing act, but that's OK

2) Other people's actions - like you are free to read a rebellious tract, but you can only exercise that freedom if anyone got round to writing one!. That's a bit more insidious, as there are all sorts of ways of discouraging behaviour that is disapproved of while apparently upholding the freedoms (religions, education, political parties, the education system have a bit to answer for here)

3) Abuse of power - and that is really bad, and I guess it is what your question is mostly about

I don't think revolt is the only course of action though!. In most Western societies, and America is not an exception so far as I know, the judges are great upholders of freedom!. Really great, you only need to read a few judgments to see that!. And the best thing anyone can do to improve our protection is to speed up the judicial system!. Not change it, just speed it up!.

And perhaps, in America, de-politicize the appointment of judges (that's only a suggestion - I don't really know what I am talking about on that point!)!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com

really, there is no way for any but a single person to be totally free!. the one free person would have their total freedom infringe upon the freedoms of others and so there is no such thing as an entire free country!.
or so i believe anyway!.
however, promising us freedoms such as free speech and free press and then not delivering such things is atrocious and needs to be addressed as soon as possible for our nation!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

In my law studies class we discussed the quote "to be free, one must be chained" and what it meant for us!. in my opinion the chains are the government laws and because of it we are free but with limitations!. so basically there is no such thing as absolute freedom!. So if you were to rebel or something there will be consequences if you liked it or not!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I do believe that we have freedom, we are just limited in our ability to express it!.

9/11!. The government took off footage of the WTC falling!. They stated it was too horrible!. Censoreship!.

Yes we have the right to rebel, the hard part is organizing a rebellion!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Is anyone really free anywhere!. It's all relative!. We may say we are lucky to have freedom in the west, yet we see the media is policed or used politically!. We see corruption everywhere and hidden agendas, which aren't always for our benefit!.

Www@QuestionHome@Com

We're free in many ways, just not as much as we're told!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

you could go to oregon live in the woods and not have to answer to anybody!.rather a hard challenge thoughWww@QuestionHome@Com