Why does the USA score so low in freedom tables?

Question

Americans love to tell the world how they are the most free nation on earth. People from other countries are often quick to point out that they are not as oppressed as Americans might think. All too often we see myths like if people in the UK insult the Queen the police throw you in the tower.

A countries level of freedom can be judged on human, personal and economic freedoms. Only in economics does the USA even reach the top ten. Now I'm not saying the UK does great, we don't, but we don't bang on all the time about freedom.

Here is a useful link, there's a table at the bottom you can fiddle with to compare freedom levels in each country
worldpopulationreview.com/.../freest-countries
There's other sites but they show pretty much the same info

So is the American belief in freedom just an illusion, no better than many countries? Something flagshaggers like to yell, or are freedom indexs nonsense?

MCheetah · Accepted Answer

"Freedom Indexes" are socialist BS nonsense. I studied this when I was in college. Their interpretation of "freedom" is extremely subjective, but mostly coming from a "Liberal/Progressive" point of view. So crap like gay Rights, number of homosexual couples in a country, number of women CEOs and politicians, socially acceptable polyamory, drug usage, etc. Stuff like that counts as "freedom" to them. That's why most of the top countries on here are all socialist, far-left nightmares, like Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, and Luxembourg.

They claim it includes "freedom of opinion and expression and 'equality'" but none of those countries have actual freedom of expression or even their own Constitution like the US has. You aren't even allowed to be right-leaning/Conservative in those countries, for example. They all have heavy "hate speech" laws, which goes against "freedom of expression." And most of all, those countries are almost entirely ethnically homogenous, which means they don't even have "ethnic diversity" from a Liberal point of view, or "intellectual diversity" from a conservative point of view. They are all programmed to act and think the same by culture. Kind of hard to test how much "freedom" you have when no one disagrees with each other on anything and everyone is Liberal/woke.

The US only ranks 15th on this list (although it is number one, in reality) because people ARE allowed to disagree with each other, and there are 50 states, with some being more conservative than others. And while I agree that in some places, like Texas, abortions are illegal, and in some places like California, being conservative is borderline illegal, it doesn't take away from the fact that OVERALL, the US has more liberty and freedom than anywhere else in the world. We don't see the UK, Norway, Iceland, or Australia, having a massive illegal immigrant problem and legal immigrants coming en masse, from all around the world, like we see in the US.

One could even argue the US has *too much freedom*, which is why it's so divided right now and many people can't agree on things. You actually have the right to disagree with people in the US. Unlike in England, where telling jokes on the internet gets you arrested and put in prison, or in Germany where having a short mustache and saying "1488" gets you prison time (although technically, "displaying Nazi symbols" is what they'll arrest you for, not specifically the mustache itself.)

While the US has many problems and flaws (which country doesn't), its freedom is still its greatest strength. And that's because the US has the Constitution and the Bill of Rights within it, and many other countries simply, objectively, don't and free speech and expression is not a government-given right.

But in short, the indexes are subjective, mostly-false horeseh*t. How TF does the UK, where you need a wanking license and are forced to pay the BBC to give you propaganda, claim to have "more freedom" than the US? That alone should tell anyone how BS these indexes are.

The US: "We ain't perfect, but at least we ain't the UK!"

ohsheeT · Accepted Answer

You are 100% right and we're losing more and more of our freedoms every day it's just now become a big manipulation our government controls so much of us and they're wanting to take more and more control the sad part is is if we head down this path that we're on other countries are going to follow and I think that's wrong it's just like when 5G came out there are countries that absolutely did not want it in their country because they know what it does they are real leaders America is just followers they're greedy and the people that we elect to represent us are doing nothing but cheating us and taking from us and our kids that's the part that pisses me off nobody else seems to see this or think this way but it's going to happen Sunday it's just a matter of time but you are 100% right

Smoke-n-Growls · Accepted Answer

American Exceptionalism is a real problem. It doesn't help that there's a number of factors working against the average American.

And it starts young.

Education is severely lacking. Health care - a common expense for kids - is expensive and out of reach for many families. There's a severe lack of literacy in America to boot - 1/5 adults have what's considered "low" literacy (they have trouble processing information).

America has a long history of gaslighting and lying to their own people. Think propaganda - America has the same amount of propaganda as Nazi Germany. But it's about how America is great or free, and how anything not American is evil or bad.

If you look at governance, most Americans don't understand how their own legal, judicial, or legislative branches work. They're not only not taught about it, they're taught not to question it.

The US has effectively kept its population stupid and poor enough to control. It's also a hypercapitalist nation - and capitalism inevitably leads to fascism. There's no other way to keep exploiting enough to make profit whores happy.

SaoirseS · Accepted Answer

I can only speak for this American. Freedoms are relative, and all freedoms and rights are subject to some regulation. After listening to my fellow Americans babble on about how the government was encroaching on their freedom with mask mandates, etc., it seems freedom to some has become one of those words that means whatever any individual wants it to mean. Freedom doesn't include driving 90-100 mph in a school zone while drunk because they think "freedom means I get to do whatever I please."

JamesDiaz11 · Answer

We score low on freedom because we're not free. Few of us have money to really do anything with this theoretical freedom, we're not free to "not go to work." Leftists have hijacked every institution where we can't even speak out minds without being cancelled, doxed, or personally destroyed. Lastly, our government is as authoritarian as can be- it targets certain groups/ people over others- and we lock up nearly as many people as Communist China.

We say we're free because in theory we value freedom, but we don't really know what it means; so, we're never disappointed when we don't have it.

Anonymous · Answer

People in the US are brainwashed to think their country is the best, even though that’s not reality. Many americans have never been abroad either so they know nothing about the world and have nothing to compare their nation to. They easily buy into the bs they are fed by government, media and schools about how much more awesome their country is compared to all other countries, how oppressed the rest of the world population is, how everybody in the world wants to move to the US and what not. Many americans don’t even know there are cars or electricity outside the US (not saying that’s most americans, but they exist)…

FreeYourM1nd · Answer

Constitution still stands thats why, though certainly I agree that its not as free as some make it out to be.

In Canada when those truckers were protesting police went around searching anyone's vehicle they wanted (no warrent) This extends to peoples phones as well would just go look through it. In USA this would have been extremely illegal.

In some European countries you will have police arrive at your door for misgendering someone on social media. And in germany they will literally put you in jail if you deny the holocaust, which is a a special kind of irony to me.

Things are not black and white, just different. Some things in USA are better and some things in Canada/Europe are better (like affordable healthcare and better food)

Msputiton · Answer

Well people in America have been brainwashed by the media.

We question every single thing stated unless it comes from the news but only if it comes from the news endorsed by our political party. The moment the news says it, they 100% believe it.

Most the time the reason they believe it is they tell us what we want to hear so we are happy and gullible.

Then they also make us feel like the otherside of the political party is our enemy trying to steal our freedoms.

Now we are distracted fighting our fake enemies, while our real enemy our own politicians, create laws and policies that screw us and we are so distracted arguing with the opposite party we don't care.

Which is why we aren't as free as we believe.

Agape93 · Answer

Oh it's very much nonsense. We have laws outlawing so many damn things, from atheists not being allowed to hold public office in Texas, to Virginia not allowing sex in anything other than missionary between a married couple. Shit, women have had their own bodily autonomy under constant attack since our founding, especially now being a prime example. We aren't free, we never were.

AviatorTom · Answer

Per the attached link, the United States ranks 15th out of the 50 countries listed. That's not bad. Holding back the USA from being ranked higher are archaic "3 strikes" laws, inconsistent national laws (each state has its own), and no socialized medicine (every country above the US has some form of socialized medicine).

Sirenboobzilla · Answer

Says we're 15th, with the UK being 14th. There's SO much of the USA's inner workings that need some revision (not gonna go in to detail as quite a bit of it is political), but there's hope for us yet.

It feels like, at the moment, we're on the precipice of change and I'm REALLY hoping we start pulling ahead.

lightbulb27 · Answer

because Americans are spoiled and fat. Many are trapped in the poverty of their minds and media. That said, were a fading nation.

Still people prefer to live here, but if you travel to Switzerland or other countries, you may wish to have dual citizenship.

maximumpower · Answer

Depends upon who they're polling and what their experiences are.
Americans who think we have it bad need to go live somewhere else for awhile.
Those who continue to think so should exercise their freedom to renounce their citizenship and exit the country as soon as possible.

NaultD · Answer

Greatest weakness is we believe that we are at the end of history. That nothing can be better.

NathanDavis · Answer

to be fair... most of those things we say and write to convince ourselves... not the rest of the world, lmao

joeldalton · Answer

It says so right on the page. Our current government routinely violates our constitution to restrict rights and freedoms. That's why there is a strong liberty movement.

jshm2 · Answer

Americans love to live in delusion. It's their greatest export.

acooke-13 · Answer

Americans (most) are delusional and naive. I mean they believe they are the greatest country in the world, most of them haven't even left the country. It makes me laugh but also makes me feel sorry for them.

Anonymous · Answer

Considering our leftist run governments choose to violate the US Constitution when it comes to speech and the right to defend ones self, as it says on the web site, it makes sense doesn't it? The moment we squash the leftists this place will return to its constitutional roots.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

The answer is simple. Those freedom indexes are subjective as hell. Is the US the most free country? I have no idea. But it definitely has a lot of freedom compared to most of the world.

Aurora1010 · Answer

I wonder what this lady would think table

HighValue · Answer

In the USA it varies greatly between states. The conservative states have much more personal and economic freedom that the liberal states.

Avicenna · Answer

Your Marxist heroes in the Democratic Party are the reason why. They have brought the US to the brink of being a Communist state.

genericname85 · Answer

well obviously americans love delusions. that's why there's so many still christians over idea. they struggle with reality and prefer emotional nonsense over facts.

OddBeMe · Answer

Firstly, that's one website. I like what I've read so far. They have good points.  But there are a lot of metrics. "Freedom" is subjective. Germany in the 30's freely accepted Hitler's leadership.

captain_voidwalker · Answer

Depends on the metrics used to guage freedom. Also depends on where in the United States you live. California and newyork the average person dosent have a lot of freedom, Texas and Florida your very free.

Guy13 · Answer

I hate it when a “Taxing” Bloody 🩸Brit is  Right 🤷🏻‍♂️

Zolly99999 · Answer

Never really thought about it as I'm not American.

Paul09 · Answer

Well blame their schools. Blame their government, blame their patriotism. And it's muricains not Americans lol. Most of their tax money goes to the army.

Anonymous · Answer

Americans are delusional and frankly kind of stupid. Some even think owning a gun means freedom. 🤣

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Joe Biden, blm, antifa, political correctness, the loony lefties, religion.

Anonymous · Answer

It always amuses me when a person from another country that has most likely never even been to the United States is going to tell me all about American freedom. 🤣🤣🤣

Anonymous · Answer

We Americans are certainly less free today than in the past. Our freedoms are restricted more and more every day. But are we less free than you Brits? Nope

bean2k21 · Answer

Apparently, the only country Eurotrash is free to talk about is the USA.

DiegoO · Answer

You really don't know what's scoring low in freedom, means.

QuietRunner · Answer

Because of the Islamic values the Pilgrims brought with them on the Mayflower

Aerolyn · Answer

Well now, isn't this ironic asf.

exitseven · Answer

It sure ain't what it used to be

Pterodon · Answer

I’m free because I can own and carry guns

Jouth · Answer

maybe the tables were made in china

Anonymous · Answer

USA is third world country...

Anonymous · Answer

bc of stupid politicians who can't govern

MrTaboo · Answer

Democrate laws.

Why does the USA score so low in freedom tables?

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