Certainly not, my point was that it’s not a common theme of those countries in the top 10 as per the cite from Giles, indeed its arguable that description applies only to 3 of them
If there was a “strong independence-from-despots” movement in Australia or New Zealand (and Switzerland, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong or Denmark) then I reckon I’m old enough to have heard of it.
Are you 150?
I said “heard of”, not “participated in”.
Which, in conjunction with your statement in post #22 “Pretty sure all of those countries except Switzerland and Canada have had to struggle a bit for self-determination.” makes me better informed, though not necessarily older, than you.
This. “Freedom” is another word for “nothing left to lose”.
I’m sorry, but this post makes no sense at all. Please explain.
It depends on the particular issue. Check out the freedom meta-index at Freedom Index : Find Freedom! which lets you pick which issues you care about (e.g., taxes, limited government, RKBA, liberal drug laws, etc.) and then produces a weighted ranking of all the countries based on what’s most important to you. It pulls in several different prominent freedom indices for data, so it’s got not only economic freedom but individual liberties. But as you can see, the US isn’t #1 anywhere, and in some cases, it’s actually in the bottom half of the list.
Canada certainly has struggled for self-determination. Just because the struggle was largely cultural, and happened in courtrooms and with a minimum of people blowing things up, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.
Elaborate please?
I’m not saying you are wrong, I just want to know what exactly you mean.
I assume that RNATB is referring to the Troubles.
Well then, he should have referred to Northern Ireland, not Ireland. This reminds me of Sarah Palin referring to North Korea as our ally. 
Define the word “free”.
For people who think America is the most free country, that definition will be different from those who think that Hong Kong (I thought it was just a region of the People’s Republic, not it’s own country?) is the most free.
Laws I’ve heard of from other countries would make me feel VERY oppressed.
I wouldn’t consider any country to be free (except Somalia, of course) because there are always laws restricting what you can do, what you can say and what you can write. As a recent high school graduate I can tell you that I went through 12 years of schooling where I was not free to do anything. Remember that freedom is freedom, it isn’t freedom with a bunch of IFs after it. For example, freedom if you’re over 18 (or 21). Freedom if you’re part of the majority. Freedom if you can afford it etc. Those are all limitations that are found in pretty much every country that we consider free. Its more like “we’ll take away your freedoms for your protection. Go against us and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law”. That’s not freedom, not even close.
But this isn’t a conversation of are countries “free” its a conversation of who’s the “most free”. Which is an impossible question in itself like most people said because of the variations of laws and expectations. But tbh, its like a bunch of ugly people asking each other who’s the prettiest… Doesn’t matter in the end.
That’s not true at all; you were free to do many things in school. You were also bound by rules because you weren’t alone there or in society.
You’re partially onto something there. Most of us trade in a lot of our freedoms for the freedom to not starve or freeze to death. 
No its very true, I do not know if my public school experience matches yours or anyone else’s here but being free in the true definition of the word was extremely absent. I’ll make a list.
I wasn’t free to attend classes at will, because I or my parents would get in trouble with truancy laws. I was not free to get up and use the restroom at will, or I could be suspended under the rule of insubordination. I did not have the first amendment freedom of speech, simply because I was in a public school system that I really had no choice to be in. I was not able to decide when I could eat, for the teachers could control when students go to lunch or eat in class. I didn’t have the freedom to wear what I liked. If I dyed my hair orange I would be removed from class for disturbing other students. I remember once a friend of mine had her state mandated standardized test invalidated because she was reading a book after she finished. Ask how free the students at Columbine were to use their cell phones.
The worst part is that I was forced to sign a paper to agree to every one of these “rules” at the beginning of every school year. If I didn’t I would be promptly removed to class and they would call my parents in order to discuss how I’m being a nuisance to other students trying to learn. Trust me, I tried. Maybe you and I have a different idea of freedom, but the only time I have truly been free to do whatever I want is when I was a toddler and my parents had to deal with the consequences of my actions.
But now toddler’s aren’t even free, they can be sued too. Freedom shouldn’t be conditional, especially if it doesn’t infringe on somebody else’s freedoms.
Love it.
By Gunownership rights
So the members of the NRA should be doing a Chandler Bing right about now.
By Taxes
Gotta Love Bahrain.
Business Freedom
Go Kiwi Go Kiwi. And look Socialist Europe is right up there.
This seems almost impossible for me to believe.
Do I understand this correctly—You are not legally allowed to drink alcohol on your own front porch or patio?
Any DC Dopers have the details on such a draconian law?
(Even here in uber-conservative Utah, where the wierdo liquor laws are internationally infamous, this would never fly. After all, it’s your own private property.)
Political freedom? So what?
If “political freedom” means you can work as a public servant if you want, usually, no way. You may have political freedom, but you have no power, nor could you get the power to hear you.
There are ways to get involved in the politics:
Become a public servant or member of congress (or something like that): You need much money to buy a political party.
Control the press so people would listen to you: No way if you’re nobody.
Start a grass-roots campaign: Chances are your non-profit will remain non-profit and your personal crusade will remain as personal as it could be.
Bitching: You can bitch your politicians without fear. No one hears you anyway. Nothing is going to change anyway. You still have 24 hours a day for you to bitch.
Vote: This is what you only have. You vote.
So how good is a car if the car does not take you anywhere?
How much would you pay if you only get a car that takes you to anywhere INSIDE YOUR BACKYARD?
How much “political freedom” do you really have.
“Religious freedom”? What? Can you call practicing the belief that a supernatural entity has overall control over you a freedom?
I must have this freedom so I can’t eat pork.
I must have this freedom so I can’t eat meat.
I must have this freedom so I can’t abort even if I was raped by a bad guy with some sex diseases.
Sometimes religions may be about love. Most of the times, they are nothing but another authority that sends people to kill each other and then fishes your pockets for money.
You can bitch your government.
Can you bit the god or his designated servant on earth?
Then what is freedom?
“Economics freedom”? Spare me.
When was the last time you see a local mom-and-pop grocery story opened in your neighborhood?
All you have is the freedom to work part-time for the world’s largest chain for some minimum wages if you are … well …