Freedom

[sweetnpetite]

What *is* freedom anyway? Is it a type of govermnent. Is democracy the only kind of freedom? Or is it something else? Is it just a catchphrase or is it something more?

this is not about arguing US or world politics or candidates- i't about arguing a word, it's meanings and applications. (spare me the dictionary)

so what do words like freedom and liberty mean to you?

 

[gauchecritic]

Freedom and liberty are what they have always been; shovel shit and pay taxes.

Your brand of shit may be higher quality than everyone elses but it's shit non-the-less and most importantly it's your shit.

Governments come and go, laws are laid and repealed, but people will always be shoveling their shit.

Gauche

 

[sweetnpetite]

I think freedom is a *good thing, I just think that too many people think that freedom=America (ie. USA) and America=freedom. Period.

People say dumb stuff like we're the only free contry in the world. and others respond by saying this and that country is a free contry as well.

So what makes a country 'free' or 'not free.'

that's pretty much what my question is

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

There are two basic kinds of freedom. They are the "freedom from" social and political ills (security), and "freedom to" do what one wants (liberty).

These freedoms are connected to thoughts about human rights, defined as a lack of excessive government interference, or through infringements by other citizens.

In most democratic societies, key freedoms are considered to be of speech, of religion, of association, of movement, and from discrimination. More recently a minimum standard of life, the legal establishment of different social formations, access to information, and privacy are being sought by many.

Achieving true freedom involves maintaining a balance. The freedom from governmental influence must be balanced against the exploitation of citizens and their environment by commercial enterprise. Freedom of individual action must be balanced against established boundaries of what behavior is unacceptable for the maintenance of society and the safety of all its citizens.

The cause of most political conflict within a democracy usually lies in the establishing of a compromise between how much freedom one segment of the society demands, and how much control another segment is willing to cede to enact the desired condition.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

No country is free in the truest sense of the word. As soon as you begin passing laws to regulate society, you are giving up a modicum of freedom for the common good. Even rabid libertarians admit you shouldn't be free to choose the side of the road you drive on or stop only when you please.

The extent to which the average citizen's right to do as they please is the bench mark for what people consider free contries. Within a narrow view, our freedom to do as we please here in the U.S. is severly limited. I can't for instance tie my Elephant to a parking meter in whatever town that law exists. It is within the braod sense of being able to speak my mind, read what I choose, gather with likeminded people, etc. that we consider ourselves free.

Freedom, on the scale of nations, is realative. there is a basic assumption of comparrison to other governmental forms when people say free. In Iran I might not be able to go out of the house without a male accompanying me. In Syria, I might be able to go out, but not get an education. In chad I might be able to go out, and get an education, but not work. In belize I might be able to work, but not date another woman. In the us I can date another woman, but can't get married. In canada I can.

There is a sliding scale, and where you decide freedom is, is largely a matter of your perception. An Iranian woman might envy me, for my freedom, while a canadain lesbian might pity me for my lack of freedom. In my own perception, I am remarkablely free to do as I please.

-Colly

 

[rgraham666]

To me freedom is about how much authourity you have over your own life.

And the responsibility to avoid hurting others while you exercise that authourity.

Freedom without responsibility is anarchy.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I really can't say what it is, but I know what a lack of it feels like. It feels like fear.

---dr.M.

 

[oggbashan]

Democracy is freedom

The main benefit of democracy is the ability to change governments without killing people.

All other forms of government are self-perpetuating and individuals have NO say in who governs them and no redress against bad government.

An individual with a vote has a minute amount of power. Millions of individuals with votes can change their country.

All freedoms come with responsibility. The responsibility to ensure that your freedom does not injure another person's freedom.

The basic responsibility in a democracy is to participate in the democratic process by using your vote after consideration of the issues. For that people have died. You owe them a duty to vote even if you don't think your vote will change anything.

If people don't vote then their government does not have authority.

Og

 

[snooper]

Re: Democracy is freedom

The main benefit of democracy is the ability to change governments without killing people. ...

True; this may, in fact, be the only benefit.

... All other forms of government are self-perpetuating and individuals have NO say in who governs them and no redress against bad government. ...

False. It would be quite possible to set up a system like the UK jury system where people are chosed as representatives in a government by random choice for a fixed term.

... All freedoms come with responsibility. The responsibility to ensure that your freedom does not injure another person's freedom. ...

False. You just wish it were so.

The basic responsibility in a democracy is to participate in the democratic process by using your vote after consideration of the issues. For that people have died. You owe them a duty to vote even if you don't think your vote will change anything.

Always provided you allow an abstention as a valid vote, where I disagree with all the candidates.

... If people don't vote then their government does not have authority.

False. The government of a dictator who allows no opposition has authority. It may not have validity in your morality, but it governs and therefore it has authority. Also the converse of your moral stance is false; Hitler was elected, Stalin was elected, Mugabe was elected; it doesn't make them more acceptable in the morality you seem to be promoting.