Can America still claim to be a 'Free Society'. Do people understand what this means?

Question

Consider the Patriot Act- By definition, being patriotic means that you can not articulate views or question any act or action done in name of the Country. This is a catch all position. Whilst Bush and Cheney avoided fighting for their country, they want to restrict you from ever talking about it because it would be unpatriotic. The best description I have heard about this present administration is that, We have given the 'Strength of a giant to a man with the mind of a Child'. can you imagine how much damage that man can do?

Answer 1

freedom-The condition of being free of restraints.
society- The totality of social relationships among human beings

Free society- totality of social relationships free of restraints.

Anyone living in America should know but don't, that "Free society" is an Ideal, not a everyday tried and proven condition.

It is a feeling, predicated by a belief. Americans believe they are free and therefore, feel free.

Yet, challenge any or all of the so called freedoms that we think we have and it will fail the litmus test immediately.
American lives are riddled with restraints
The bulk of Americans are conditioned at a very early age to navigate themselves around and through these restraints as though they do not exist; but they are there and visible.

And, whenever the government feels that more restraints are necessary(Patriot Act), Americans are startled from their make-believe world and become agitated with these new restraints that they haven't been conditioned for.

Unfortunately, Americans are like grazing beasts, with short-lived memories and easily adapt to these new restraints and settle down in their blissful fantasy lives called freedom.

Answer 2

"Strength of a giant to a man with the mind of a child." Hmm...that's an interesting way of putting it. I think it's fairly accurate, although I think people are mistaken when they claim George Bush is unintelligent. He was educated at Harvard and Yale, for goodness sake, so he's no dummy. He's just incapable as a president, is all.

And I don't think Mr. Bush considered the consequences of the Patriot Act when it was being written. I hardly think he meant to quash any freedoms, but I also don't think he cared all that much when that freedom-quashing started happening.

As for your original question, though...defining "free" is difficult. Everyone has a different idea of what it means, which is why some may feel oppressed even when the government doesn't mean to be oppressive.

Gah. I hope that all made sense.

Answer 3

the Patriot Act does not do away with the Bill of Rights. otherwise, the New York Times would have been shut down months ago. I hear people on the news every single day being critical of our government. and they have the right to do so.
but I do think that there has to be some sort of middle ground. like Benedict Arnold, he was "critical" of the war for independence and was rooting for his own people to fail.
so while freedom of expression is important, that doesn't mean you can express something dangerous.

Answer 4

i believe we lost freedom with Clinton, political correctness and affirmative action, I think the patriot act was more a preventative measure because you are still allowed to question and talk about what is going on it's just that if you are suspected of being a terrorist you will be monitored that is all I don't think the asker fully understands the patriot act or it's intent, the asker in my opinion is just going by the propaganda He/she May have heard on the news, I do however agree with Him/Her that yes we are no longer a free society

Answer 5

The mind of a child....the man is a few IQ points above retard!!

No we do not live a "free" society. Everything has a price and a consequence that was sacrificed by our ancestors. We do live in a society that doesn't feel the need to earn or give and mostly only know how to want!!! Not to be a hypocrite, I fight my own selfishness as well!!

Answer 6

It is not unpatriotic to speak out against Bush. A.) He usurped the Presidency. He was not elected by the people. B.) He has made the United States of America a terrorist nation. We have attacked and destroyed with no prevocation.

That said, the loss of freedom has been slowly seeping into our lives for years. We are forced to wear seatbelts, because we are not smart enough to choose whether or not we want to gamble with our lives. We can smoke, but only as long as no one sees us or suspects that we might be smoking because we are not smart enough to choose whether or not we want to gamble with our lives. Our rights to own/use a handgun is limited because we are not smart enough to to choose whether or not we want to gamble with our lives.

Whenever I try to talk to people about our loss of choice (FREEDOM), they typically respond that this is the price we pay for freedom. Help me out here. The price we pay for freedom is the loss of freedom. My friends don't let me keep score playing cards because my math is so bad, but even I can add 2 and 2.

To answer your question, NO. Americans do not understand what a free society means anymore. Orwell was only off by a few years.

Answer 7

pretty good question-short answer is no-we have many laws that restrict us on so many levels we couldnt even begin to list-on the other hand we do have a lot of freedoms that is not enjoyed in other places and the usa is still a pretty good place to live-i look and hope for the day that the human race matures enough that laws will not be necessary but dont believe i will see it in my lifetime so i try to deal with what we have-keep the peace lots of love old hippie here

Answer 8

Poor oppressed little 60's wannabe troll.

They're are flights leaving everyday. Use one if you are so put upon to make small sacrifices against an enemy who would cut your throat regardless of the yellow streak you have down your back.