Do you think America is a free country or more or less the same as any other country?

[Asianguy123]

Is freedom illusion?

[nightdrot]

Having grown up in a family with Jewish relatives who lived in German occupied Poland through World War II. Having grown up also with German relatives who lived first under the Nazis and then under - ultimately escaping from communist East Germany, I can assure you that America is a free country.

Indeed, a country that is too quick to take its freedom for granted and to imagine threats to that freedom that are frankly quite trivial. Thus absent historical perspective - and it has been well said that Americans travel fast because they travel light when it comes to understanding history - Americans are paradoxically prone to imagine tyranny around every corner even as they take for granted the blessings of freedom that they have.

Small example: My father and mother went to visit - this about 7 years before the fall of the Berlin Wall - my mother's relatives who had remained in East Germany. One night they sat on the porch and talked and sand songs.

During this my father noticed that his niece was walking around the perimeter of the yard over and over again. My father asked why she was doing this and was told that she was making sure that they could not be heard beyond the bounds of the yard. This because, if they could be, they might get reported - or be heard - by the Stassi for singing "inappropriate" songs and all would be arrested.

Such was life in communist East Germany on a regular day. The neighbors were potential spies and singing a song was a punishable offense. Suffice to say my Jewish relatives, who spent time in the camps, have even more terrifying experiences that they would periodically relate.

That is what the world looks like where there really is no freedom. America's freedom may not be perfect in every detail when compared to the tidy abstractions that Americans like to imagine in their minds. However, in the hard gritty real world, American freedom is rare and perishable and is apt to be abused by those who take it for granted. Not least Americans themselves.

[Hallo626262]

Yeah Germany is more free now. At least objectively.

[nightdrot]

@Hallo626262 Not really the point, but yes - Germany is free now. As far as "objectively," I would be hard put to set a better standard. "Subjectively?"

[Hallo626262]

Nö studies say this could be a different experience subjectively though

[nightdrot]

@Hallo626262 Sorry, I don't follow. Please clarify. "No studies say this could be a different experience subjectively though" is not proper English.

Best I can tell you are suggesting that everyone will judge the point of German democracy through their own eyes. Yet there is a right answer and a wrong answer to the question. Anyone who would say that Germany today is no different from Germany circa 1939 is rendering the use of words to be meaningless.

The differences between Germany then and now are factual and objective. Anyone who suggests they are not is quite simply mistaken. It is not a question of subjective assessments but objective fact - see also the experience of my relatives who escaped from East Germany to live in West Germany. They did not do so for frivolous reasons.

[Hallo626262]

Learn reading you fuck

[andreasderjuengere]

To me, ''America'' has a strange understanding of what 'freedom' is. I believe that once they were on the right track, but they lost direction, and as with most other things they helplessly exaggerate.
Some ''freedoms'' have lead to a situation that it inevitably reduces the freedoms of others. I see an individual freedom as a bubble in a tank filled with freedom (s): when some bubbles become too big - other bubbles don't find space.

Picking one (typical?) example:
Yes: I am free to produce harmful drinks and food. And yes: I am free to consume those until I'm obese or diabetic. --> but this is the freedom of children.
I could add some gun thoughts - but that only will provoke the lobby shit storm ''discussion'' that leads nowhere.

A society can only be overall free, when it means freedom (liberties) for all. As we see, this is not the case. Their beloved ''capitalism'' (the way they apply it) prevents it. And calling war a law to regulate even the tiniest shit is highly authoritarian = the opposite of freedom.

Myself, I could not feel free there.

Certainly, there are less free countries on the planet. But ''same as any other country'' is hardly the case. They are more a kind of experiment to me, than a ready-to-use solution.

[5points2gspot]

I believe we fought for our freedom through the wars. I also feel like we are back sliding vs trying to mend what needs healing or repair. I believe money is the root to all evil. a lot want to be rich with money, but money doesn’t make you truly happy. True happiness is what makes one rich. Wealth is more important than being a billionaire. I feel like we are free but we are also going backwards. A change needs to happen for the better not for the worse. Money is made out of? Trees? But trees give us oxygen. There is a lot that needs to be addressed.
Water & food & shelter should be free. All things we NEED to survive. If we want to continue wing free we better find it in ourselves to learn to be kind n brave and honest and act like a community amongst ourselves n treat each other the same way we treat ourselves or better. That can be an under statement cuz a lot of people don’t treat themselves very kind n loving as is. Maybe cuz they don’t know how or was never shown it or given it or taught love. But pure love is already inside. Just have to unlock it and it takes great courage to do so. This government has people trapped in fear. So how free are we really?

[Shamiah02]

Our freedom is an illusion.

They brainwash, and shame people through the media and politicians to conform to how the government wants us to act.

So most people are so afraid of not fitting in and act exactly how the government wants them to.

Even to the point that they are so afraid to question their political party. they vote and believe in many things only because their political party tells them they should.

They watch the news and the news tells them how to see the events of the day and they go about believing it without questioning it.

It's the reason why the democratic voters and the republican voters will see the same subject but when they give their views of how it went down, it's like 2 completely different events on polar opposite sides of the spectrum. Because the republican news lies to them about how it happened and the democratic news exaggerates the seriousness of it.

The media told them how they should see it and like puppets they go along with it, and will argue and fight with anyone who disagrees

[FatherJack]

This !! It's the same shit worldwide , politicians are also mere puppets for the Rothschild led Cartel , giving orders from the shadows , whilst giving their puppet stooges big $$$£££ backhanders. The same Cartel also owns all mainstream ( lamestream ) media. The big bullshit factory !!

[MsTaniaUncensored]

It isn't an illusion so much as it is many Americans don't know what this actually means. You see many people raising the alarm that their freedom of speech has been violated because a social media platform takes down their post and don't understand that private companies are not required to give you any free speech. It only protects you from government persecution over your beliefs and opinions. Twitter or Facebook can remove your posts for any reason and you even agree to this in their terms of service when you sign up.

Thats all living in a free country means in that you cannot be silenced, imprisoned, or discrimnated against based on your beliefs by your government.

The only freedoms private companies need to uphold is discrimination against you based on your race or religion such as not hiring you based on such things.

Many people in free nations seem to beliece they can do whatever they wish wherever they wish and no one can do a thing which is not the case.

[Floppy2112]

No. Being the product of refugees there is one thing I know for sure. The U. S. is the worst country exect for every other country in the world. However, that is changing at an alarming rate and our liberties and freedoms are slipping away. First slowly than quickly. And people are too aloof and tribal to realize it and by the time they do it will be too late.
People who have the attitude that freedom is an illusion or some other kind of nonsense, bullshit like that have no idea what they are talking about because they grew up in the best place to grow up in the world. You can only hold that attitude in a 1rst world country. I sense many people have no idea what freedom really means because they grew up with it. Kind of like a fish does not know it's wet. I have traveled the world and I have seen great places, but the U. S. was always home. But the dark clouds of authoritarianism is upon us and the creep is moving fast. Soon, we will admire Russia for it's freedom unless something major changes soon.

[DryGermanGuy]

The United States has more than 2.000.000 people in prison or jail. The United States has further more than 3.500.000 people under parole or probation. I have read about numerous cases of people getting arrested/prosecuted for ridiculous reasons (car defect, topless tanning, drinking beer...) that in other countries you won't even receive a fine for. Many U. S. states have substandard police training, resulting in a high margin of "error" (to put it politely).
Does that adequately answer your question?

[doopayo]

Freedom in America’s an illusion. There are several countries which provide way better for their citizens yet America claims it’s number one. America’s number one in incarceration maybe? But i don’t agree with the media trying to demonize patriots into thinking any critique of the countries a direct attack against it or something

[Daniela1982]

There are more incarcerated in places like China and North Korea. You just don't hear about it. At least we don't hold political prisoners like they do.

[doopayo]

If the US doesn’t hold political prisoners than what the fuck is the CIA, a kinderagrten?

[Daniela1982]

Well sure they do, just not as many as other countries. Many other countries have purges where they kill all their opposition like the Romanoffs in Russia and Stalin's purge where he killed all the officers.

[doopayo]

The US has done the same thing, for all the times we have people here crying about people interfering in our elections the US government has interfered in several other countries elections.

We’re also known for using imperialistic tactics in order to get hold of other countries oil and claim we did it out of freedom. Meanwhile deploying drone strikes and murdering innocent civilians.

[Daniela1982]

Where has the opposition been killed in the US?

[ObscuredBeyond]

Everyone who can, should play Far Cry 6, and take it as a metaphor for what it'll take to stop the criminal regime we have now in America. Every American must be prepared to be a real life Dani Rojas.

And after that, to cut off China completely. Stop feeding the dragon pig. Watch it starve.

It's actually a better metaphor than the America-themed FC5 was!

In just 2 years, we went from sane nation, to Clown World, to 14 days to flatten the curve, to Pfizer putting Gray Goo Cyborg Venom in you veins and getting away with it. (Let's make the phrase #GrayGooCyborgVenom trend!).

To the point that NBA players have to agree to knock knock let the Devil in, or be kicked off the team! And they're no more guaranteed not to get sick after the shot than before!

[Oigit]

Just because you have heard something over and over again does not make it the truth. Given that we have it beaten into our head that America is a free country does not make it true. Not to mention it starts when we are in our development years and not mentally developed enough to truly understand it also raises more doubts for me. Especially given that this is the same time that we are convinced that the tooth ferry and other mythical creature are real. Makes me question it even further. So my conclusion is that America isn't as free we are lead to believe it is. We are no more free as any other country.

[TheorionMage]

ALL in HOW One defines 'free'...
SO MUCH depends upon the 'maturity' of One's neighbors
and their ability to keep their beliefs limited to THEIR OWN conduct.

I am a Neopagan Catechist ('Sunday school' educator) and just earlier today needed remind some pseudo-Christian conservatives that their 'Satan' is THEIR 'boogieman' and should they INSTIGATE another 'burning' fervor that while we DO NOT 'proselytize OUR beliefs'
(if we seem 'blessed' perhaps you should observe HOW we live. Most of us will gladly speak pragmatically respectfully with you)
today WE ARE ARMED and 'zealot arson' is a societally-acknowledged IMMEDIATE capital felony... wherein immediate LETHAL force IS authorized! ..."Words to the Wise"~
Their families, churchs and homes are EQUALLY as flammable as our's ) O (

[MuddyMole]

Pretty similar to most Western democracies. You have more freedom than you would in a lot of countries - particularly if you're in any kind of a minority group (I know there's still racism in the US, but it's *nothing* compared to the way minorities are treated in many other countries).

The countries where you have real "freedom", where there aren't loads of strictly enforced laws dictating what you can and can't do - those are *not* the kinds of countries where you'd want to live. We're talking Venezuela, Cambodia, The Congo, etc (at the opposite end of the spectrum, you have the Scandinavian countries, which are widely regarded as providing among the highest quality of life).

[horsenrhinounicorn]

America is a capitalism country. There is an existing problem with Citizens losing more and more freedom as more and more politicians from both parties write more laws and taxes for personal gain and votes. There is more freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom to have families than many other nations and the benefit to get out of poverty with education and job experience. The biggest issue I see is excessive taxes on homes, you could have your home completely paid off, but lose it from not being able to afford the taxes.

[Ninaface]

Name me a country that is more free.
While nothing is an absolute, America is surely more free than any other nation in the world. The only place you could argue is with some states, some of those freedoms may be restricted in one way or another; but overall it balances out across the country.
I know I can vote. I know I can say whatever opinions or ideas without imprissionment. I know I can own guns to protect myself, and I have that right to life. What other country allows such freedom that it let's you be in charge of your wellbeing more than the government is?

[yofuknutz]

Now that's the elephant 🐘 in the room!

[purplepoppy]

All countries have laws regulations and certain liberties people have to follow and America is no exception. They bang on about freedom but apart from shooting each other or screaming abuse at minorities I've yet to hear an example of what they do with that freedom.

[exitseven]

We are not as free as I remember. I don't know if it is because people are such assholes today. When I was a kid in the 70's and 80s nobody locked their houses and cars. You did not have to worry about perverts kidnapping your kids or junkies breaking into your house.
It is not just the democrats wanting to control every aspect of our lives but it the endless regulations to keep us safe from terrorism. I have not been on an airplane in 27 years. The very thought sickens me. I used to fly all over the country.
I would rather drive for 30 hours than take a 3 hour plane trip.
Covid is making terrorism seem like a piece of cake.
I think other countries have it worse. Australia looks like a war zone and some countries in Europe still have lockdowns.
In America at least we have some basic freedoms still and I think that things will improve.

[Daniela1982]

We are being less free every day with the Government trying to take away our rights and control our lives. We have no say how our tax money is spent or the laws they pass. I don't think this is the "freedom" our forefathers envisioned. Just remember the Boston Tea Party.

[DataOrganizer27]

We like to think we are free - and it was largely true to an extent - but we are largely overrated. In my opinion, we are the free-est country on the planet yet we could still be so much better. It's like we all got happy and stagnant after a while and said 'yeah good enough' and stopped climbing the ladder.. sad really.

[MotorcycleMan]

Pretty hard to think of it as a free country when we have more people incarcerated per capita than any other country. I find most other countries have a little more freedom when it comes to laws. Also hard to take being a free country seriously when so many people want to kick out anyone who wasn't born here, keep out people from other countries and build walls. That's not a free society.

[Rachel794]

Yes, freedom is illusion. Because the two parties in America, Republican and Democrat parade their freedom around by bullying and oppressing the side they disagree with. America is more about division than freedom even though we’re always saying the latter.

[Rachel794]

And control

[JoeBob9000]

typically, we look at countries and determine their "Freedom Rating" based on what the government mandates or restricts. However, in *most* first world countries, the media mandates or restricts the control of information, thereby controlling what we think or believe.

The USA is a country where you're free to think and believe based on what you're told to think and believe through the media.

So, No. The USA is not a "Free Country". Much the same as Canada, UK, Australia etc. where the media, (News networks, Social Media etc.) tell us what to believe and decide what we hear.

[kholland65]

It's not a free country anymore. Not since 2020. Apparently we're a communist nation now where the people with the largest anxiety and mental disorders are entitled to make the decisions for everyone else on how they get to live.

Nobody is free any where in the world anymore unless you're a billionaire or a politician.

[Shizunk]

Still more free than most, but clearly itching to throw that advantage away if online debates are to be believed. In a certain sense, you were more protected from political persecution during the middle ages than today and for a lot of people want it to be even worse in the future. I really hope I am wrong, but I don't expect liberty in the US to outlive me.

[BeenThereLovedIt]

You are a chained servant to capitalism, so what does freedom even matter, but to answer the question- Yes, it's a free country, but you gotta pay rent. Being homeless is a crime, so you have to work. Once you are working, you have financial responsibilities and boom, you are no longer free. You can't just homestead on some open land either, somebody owns it and you aren't welcome. Freedom appears to be an illusion.