Belarus, yes, arguably Russia, but otherwise, where?
(And please don’t try to tell me a social-democratic state like Sweden is “less free” than the U.S.)
Belarus, yes, arguably Russia, but otherwise, where?
(And please don’t try to tell me a social-democratic state like Sweden is “less free” than the U.S.)
“I know from watching TV that kids today are worse then when I was a child.” :rolleyes:
Depends on your definitions. I consider any country that limits what parents can name their child, for example, to be “less free.” Ditto possesions of firearms. In several countries the government owns the majority of the TV and radio stations, and you have to buy a license to own a TV set. I generally rail at anyone who uses the “Europe does XXX” argument. We aren’t Europe, thank Og. YMMV, obviously.
"Oh you just THINK you don’t like au-gratin monkey feces casserole; you’ve never tried MY au-gratin monkey feces casserole!
And I’m probably gonna start a whole big mess with this one, but I’ve never agreed with the sentiment that,
"Violence never solved anything"
I think a more sensible statement would be,
“Violence is not a good way to try to resolve anything unless other more reasonable options are not available”
Oh yeah?
Someone posted the following in another forum. I think he said it well.
<< The oft-repeated claim I find most irritating and ridiculous is when Yanks, usually gun-nut Yanks, ludicrously imply that their country is somehow more ‘free’ than Great Britain; generally based on the sole evidence that every second schoolchild is armed to the teeth.
When I lived in the U.S., even in supposedly ‘liberal’ California, I was constantly struck by the lack of social freedoms afforded to residents that I enjoyed back in GB. Having just left university when moving to the States, my mind would often go back to my student days, when as a fresh-faced 18 year old having just moved away from home for the first time, I would particularly enjoy Saturdays, which were free not only from college work, but also free from nanny-state social legislation and restriction.
My ideal Saturday would go something like this…
(1) Get into car, failing to carry driving license or any other form of ID
(2) Drive to High Street betting shop
(3) Have bet on tomorrow’s NFL games
(4) Meet friends in pub for lunchtime drink
(5) Adjourn from pub to afternoon horserace meeting
(6) Relieve bookmakers of pleasing sum; decide to play up winnings at casino that evening.
(7) Walk darkened streets to casino without fear of being mugged by criminal with gun.
(8) Enjoy games of roulette, blackjack and craps
(9) Leave for girlfriend’s flat, calling in at convenience store for bottle of wine.
(10) Decide to also call at ‘private’ shop for X-rated video to help evening proceed to pleasing conclusion
(11) Following wine and porn, enjoy oral sex with girlfriend (amongst other activities)
(12) Light up post-coital hand-rolled Cuban cigar
As readers will surely realise, each of these twelve actions would be illegal, or impossible, for my freshman counterpart in many, most or ALL American states. AFAIK, at least five of the twelve would be illegal/impossible in every state. Even in Nevada I believe that my freedom would be restricted in (1), (4), (7), (9) & (12).
In Utah or Alabama, OTOH…
And you think you live in ‘The Land of The Free’?!?
ROTFLMAO!! >>
Well, since 6 of the above items all relate to a single activity (gambling), and another involves a disgusting habit (smoking tobacco), I can disregard them as far as I am concerned. The rest I can do freely. The only one that would trip me up would be #1, and I really don’t have any problem with that. Don’t they bother with driver’s licenses in Britain?
Some of them involve drinking at age 18. Could you do that? at 18?
Can you walk the streets without fear of being mugged by a criminal with a gun?
About the whole “. . . you should have nothing to hide” line of argument: Man, I have stuff to hide! And it’s my right to hide it. Doesn’t mean I’m doing anything wrong. Little thing called privacy. You can either give it up completely, or accept the risks involved in allowing people to hide stuff just because they feel like it.
I regularly see letters to the editor regarding any kind of major demonstration that boil down to: “You should be grateful for your right to protest – so grateful that you never use it! Good men died so that you could have the right to protest – that’s why it’s unpatriotic to actually do it!” I don’t really understand it, but that’s what they’re saying. (I remember one letter from a lady who actually said, “America is the only country where people are allowed to speak out against their own government!” I think she believed that.)