# My mother says the government never had the right to make us stay home since we're a "free country." Is this true?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [December 29, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204 "2020-12-29T23:52:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/102 "2021-01-02T02:59:40Z")

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> [@RivkahChaya](#):
>
> We are free-er than many other countries that require not only a passport, but a visa to leave the country.

Iraq, Kuwain, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have an exit visa requirement for **alien foreign workers.**

Nepal requires its citizens emigrating to the United States to present an exit permit to show that the person has employment.

Uzbekistan eliminated it’s exit visa requirement in 2019.

China requires a two way visa for citizens going to Hong Kong

S. Korea, Singapore and Taiwan have requirements that are tied to their mandatory military service for young people.

Cuba has not had an exit visa requirement since 2013.

Not exactly a huge “freedom” that only US citizens have

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**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/103 "2021-01-02T03:06:14Z")

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> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> Are you allowed to hand them a penny and say “Here’s your full refund. Now piss off!”?

I’m not. I process and analyze traffic related citizen complaints/requests. Making people feel heard and appreciated is part of the job. Even if we can’t do whatever they’re asking for - they’re our eyes in the field. They use ALL the roads and see things that we wouldn’t catch.

People being loud and jerky divide into two types. Some are just extremely frustrated and need to vent. Others just think that’s the only way to get anything done. Thankfully, more and more of the complaints come through the online complaint form. All caps is easier to deal with than being yelled at.

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**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/104 "2021-01-02T03:15:01Z")

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I am wishing you good karma.

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/105 "2021-01-02T07:25:29Z")

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Better make it the late 70s. More cocaine, less AIDS.

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**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\
**Post date:** [January 2, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/106 "2021-01-02T20:34:48Z")

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> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#):
>
> I am wishing you good karma.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2021, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-mother-says-the-government-never-had-the-right-to-make-us-stay-home-since-were-a-free-country-is-this-true/929204/107 "2021-01-04T22:21:54Z")

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> [@RivkahChaya](#):
>
> The government does not keep tabs on your movements.

Except for the NSA monitoring your phone calls.

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