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What is so free about living in the US?

I am wondering why we it is considered so special to live in a supposed "free society." It should be taken for granted to live and work where you want. People say we have the right to vote but that is an illusion to make us feel like were contributing to government. George Bush, did not win by popular decision. Our country does not allow us to make choices to smoke drugs, drink alcohol under the age of 21, gay marriage, Polygamy, at certain time it forces individuals into war, you can't build a house in the wilderness, your children are technically owned by the government and parents are just their primary caretakers (Look that one up if you don't beleive me. Practically every law ever written besides don't murder, steal, hurt each other, are extreme restrictions of our freedom. THe US has over 2 million people incarcerated for violating the Laws, I understand the murderers, the rapist, the thieves, and the brawlers, but what about everyone else. Is this FREEDOM? Bill W. I love that attitude, North Koreans aren't free either, neither is the US. One is worse than the other, thats an easy observation, I know governments are a necessary evil but why do we have so many restrictions. Why do people as a whole have almost every facet of their life controlled, you can't even go to the park after dark. You call that freedom, I know its' better than facing an execution sqaud in North Korea, but why are there literally thousands of Lawbooks containing hundreds of thousands of laws, if everything is so free. Don't you think its kind of totalitarian to send a person to prison for years for growing marijuana. Or 20 years for having 2 wives. How about paying a couple of hundred dollars for choosing not to wear a seatbelt. THese are minor things but why does the government treat us as though were their children Hawkston, that point of being so proud of our freedom of speech is ridiculous. Yes I know there are far worse countries and the US has it good compared to others I am not arguing that, What I am saying that although the US is better than some the "Bill of Rights" shouldn't have to be written, in fact instead of giving us 10 "freedoms" that we automatically should have upon birth on the planet earth there should only be 10 laws that are always followed.

Public Comments

1. What is free about living in the U.S., you ask? From all your fussing about issues above, one big freedom comes immediatley to mind. Have you ever contacted your elected officials and inform them of your opinions? Look at the crimes the incarcerated people have done; would you want them on the streets to continue doing what they were originally put in jail for? Voting is important; if you don't vote, don't complain. If you don't like something, contact your elected officials. That's a part of what freedom is all about.
2. i have to agree with you!!! wow!! im not the only one who thinks of this.. & the one issue that really pisses me off is that one where the government can decide wat to do with a child. they can tell you how to raise it & if not done so how they say YOUR child will be taken away! what kind of crap is that?? i think that there are alot of issues that need to be fixed and unfortunately they wont be fixed because politicians dont care. we vote for them just to VOTE we dont take a good look at their causes and wat they believe IN in such cases.. we definately do not have freedom.. they make us believe we do but in reality we do not or else we would be living differently
3. You know Aiysha, I really think you need to read up on the not -so-free conditions the North Korean people live with day-to-day, and have been for twenty to forth years. If you complain over their, your whole family goes to prison at hard labor for the rest of your life. You can't bow down to God or Christianity, just to Il Kim Il what ever his first name is. Hell you can't even buy food, he gets all of it for himself, and his army. You need to understand what freedom is, do the research, and find out why so many immigrants come here, risking all they have in the world. You shoot your mouth off, but you know nothing of the freedoms you have. Go back and study---oh yeah, that is a freedom too, in some countries. By the way, if you listen to Oprah, you might find out that women in many countries don't get go to school, wear complete body coverings, in 130 degree weather, can't complain about being raped without losing their own life, and how about the lack of freedom the damned Nazi took from our beloved Jewish brothern and sister in WW2. Freedom, is what you have, thank your nation, and servicemen, and God, and yes the government
4. i love that tool, "Contact your elected officials" What are they going to do? Make more laws. In the majority of the states our public parks have a time limit, you can't smoke anywhere anymore and If I go 60 MPH in a 55MPh zone when there isn't another soul for miles I have to pay if I get caught. I understand laws to protect other people's safety and property, and even some of the business and antitrust laws, but drugs, abortion, marriage, curfew laws on parks, those shouldn't be touched by the government. A good government should build infrastructure, organize a DEFENSIVE military force, organize a police and fire force. Thats it, even eliminate prisons and enforce harsh punishments for extreme violations merted out by the community.
5. I love our country! However, only God is perfect! We have to have guidelines to follow! There are a lot of things I may not agree with! There are so many double standards.But, laws change ,we can be involved in the process of trying to make things better for the good of all! Through being a voter,helping goverment officals (we believe can help make a change) get in office! I don't know who "everyone else"is. Are you more concerned with imigration laws ? While I may have smoked a little weed, in my younger years! I wouldn't trust my cousin to drive his kids' school bus after he had only a little weed. It affects us differently,he wouldn't admit that.I didn't want to drive after smoking ANY! But,it is wild how our 18yr olds can't get a beer in our country ! But they can go to war and die for it! There are reasons for laws! Some are old laws,some need revising, some need to be dropped.But it takes people getting in there and one person can make a huge difference!
6. Have you ever lived anywhere else? You may feel that our government is invasive, although your examples of things you cannot do are all negatively impacting decisions with the exception of gay marriage. The issue of who owns a child is an odd inclusion, since in many other countries a child is not a person at all and there is no penality for the death of the child, intentional or not. Gay marriage is not recognized in most other countries. That we even talk about it in the US, we vote on it, we demonstrate about it shows that we are free to talk about it. You could be shot for being suspected of being gay - is that more free? We will eventually recognize gay marriage - it is going to take a while. Women and Blacks didn't get to vote for a long time, remember? In some countries, Blacks only got the vote in the 15 years and women still cannot vote. Are they more free? Your freedom ends where your safety is threatened and/or the safety and freedom of others begins. Some people make bad choices and we try to legislate safety. It's not great or even good, but you still actually get to make the choice. If caught, you pay a penalty that you will probably survive, unlike other places around the world. You do realize that posing this question in some countries would result in your being picked up and jailed, right?