What does freedom mean in the United States today? Are we free?

Answer 1

The answer sadly is our rights are being taken away...I submit facts not emotions to back this statement so please all read this if you are really concerned ...Some of the most dangerous provisions of the PATRIOT Act include those in Section 215 and 505. Section 215 allows the government to seize all our personal records, including those held by others. Anyone who turns over your records, for example, medical records or bank records, is forbidden from saying anything about it to anyone.

Section 505 allows the government to issue so-called National Security Letters, demanding all records from Internet Service Providers and other businesses -- all without judicial review. Prior to the enactment of the USA PATRIOT Act, these letters could be issued only against suspected terrorists. Now they can be issued against anyone. When the ACLU challenged this provision, the government immediately sought, and received, a gag order prohibiting the ACLU's legal team from saying anything to anyone -- including the staff and board of the ACLU -- about the case. After three weeks of negotiating with the government, a compromise was reached allowing a heavily-redacted version of the ACLU's complaint to be made public. Additionally, any time an ACLU staff member or board member wishes to speak to anyone about the case they must first read a memo issued by the ACLU's legal team that specifies what can be said about the case.

Section 802, in defining domestic terrorism, states, in part, "the term 'domestic terrorism' means activities that-
'(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
'(B) appear to be intended-
'(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
'(ii) to influence the policy of a government byintimidation or coercion."

Because of its broad language, many have argued that this definition could apply to environmental or peace organizations.

Strossen said that, in addition to litigation, the ACLU is supporting coalitions around the country that are working to adopt community resolutions opposing the PATRIOT Act. As of mid-April, 295 communities in 40 states have passed such resolutions and dozens more are preparing to do so. Five communities in Florida are among those passing resolutions against the USA PATRIOT Act. They are: Alachua County (October 22, 2002), Broward County (May 6, 2003), Sarasota (October 20, 2003), Lee County (November 18, 2003), and Tampa (April 15, 2004). Washington, D.C. and New York City, the two cities hit hard on September 11, have passed similar resolutions opposing the PATRIOT Act. Strossen said that the most compelling testimony in favor of the resolutions came from survivors of the World Trade Center disaster.

Lawmakers of all political stripes have finally begun to reconsider controversial portions of the PATRIOTAct. Late last year, Senators Larry Craig (R-ID) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan Security and Freedom Ensured Act (safe) Act of 2003 (S 1709). Representative C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID) introduced a companion bill in the house. Otter's bill would effectively prohibit implementation of one of the most controversial provisions of the PATRIOT Act, which permitted federal agents to obtain sneak and peek warrants in any criminal case. These warrants allow agents to search homes, confiscate certain types of property and essentially bug computers without notifying the subject of the search that it is happening. If passed, this legislation would represent a significant first step toward rolling back some of the PATRIOT Act's worse excesses by, among other things, placing reasonable limits on "sneak and peek" searches and implementing safeguards for "roving wiretaps" in foreign intelligence investigations. According to Strossen, the Florida delegation voted 18 -- 6 in favor of Otter's provision.

Strossen is the first woman to head the nation's largest and oldest civil liberties organization. Because the ACLU Presidency is a non-paid, volunteer post, Strossen continues in her faculty position as Professor of Law at New York Law School. She has written, lectured and practiced extensively in the areas of constitutional law, civil liberties and international human rights. Strossen has been an outspoken critic of the USA PATRIOT Act and other post-9/11 measures that share anti-civil liberties characteristics, including provisions that erode checks and balances on federal law enforcement and surveillance powers that threaten the American political system's separation of powers.

For more information on the ACLU's activities in opposition to the PATRIOT ACT, visit http://www.aclu.org/safeandfree.... The site includes a link to read or download the Act in its entirety

Answer 2

There are all kinds of freedoms, and we're doing
better on some and worse on others.

However, there is no such thing as perfect
freedom: What I do effects you and visa versa.
If I was free to commit murder, then where would
we be?

President Carter points out that many people
consider the ability to eat a freedom. That is,
if they generate enough money to whatever
food they want, or at least have a choice in
the matter - that is a freedom (that, by-and-large,
we take for granted).

Are we free? We may be the free-ist country on
Earth. I sometimes wonder if people understand
that when try to say things like people should not
disagree with the President - that it is unpatriotic.

If I love this country, I love its Constitution
(warts and all). I love the fact that I can say
what I think needs to be said.

Even as Bush erodes our privacies, we have a
long way to go before we compare with most
countries. I believe countries like England,
France, Austrailia, etc. are about as free as
we are, but if the power of the executive is
unchecked, we won't be on that list much longer.

Answer 3

I believe we are more free than most other countries. Those freedoms are slipping away though. With freedom comes responsiblity. Laws are created because someone screwed up and violated someone else's freedoms so more laws are created to give guidelines on proper behavior. If people would act responsibly, we'd need less laws and be more free. For example, there are anti-drug laws because some dumb *** got stoned and did something selfish to affect someone else that they may not have otherwise done sober. Same as DUI laws... drinking and driving affects other people so to proactively prevent the bad outcome, anti-DUI and anti-drinking laws are put in place.
Even more extreme... the way we're all treated in the airports while trying to get on a plane. Americans are assumed to be terrorists first and peaceful people second. Our freedoms are being taken away in order to protect us from others or ourselves. If everyone acted the proper way, we'd need less laws and have more freedoms. It's the few that screw it up for the many. It's the few that should have their freedoms violated so the rest of us could keep ours.

Answer 4

Thank you, my fellow poster, for being so bold as to raise such concerns for the people.

Let ME be so bold as to answer the latter part of your question first...'Are we free?'...NO, you most certainly are not.

In fact, you have not been free since 1913. This is when a group of private bankers, with the permission of the government, took over the Federal Reserve. It is this non-government entity that controls the politicians and YOU today. This unsavory situation is not just true of America, but indeed...the entire western world.

'What does freedom mean in the United States today?' Well...the ongoing problem is...most living Americans never had freedom to begin with...so they've lost touch with what it is. They have only been taught that they HAVE it.

Please look at this very educational link...http://www.freedomtofascism.com/index.html ...and pay special attention to the interview, halfway down the page.

Now...once again...my fellow poster and friend...I thank you for this opportunity and urge you to continue to 'question'.

Over&Out!

Answer 5

For crying out loud. Are you people so clueless as to really believe the drivel you shovel here sometimes? I'm sorry, I try to give thoughtful, insight answers to questions asked here, its infinately better that the garbage thrown about on yahoo message boards, but when someone asks if we are really free in America I just want bang my head on my desk.

Here, to answer your question. Take a trip to and live in each of these countries for 2 years. Now, once you get there you can NOT leave no matter what, you have to stay and live there for 2 years and then move on to the next country. Ok? Alright, first stop is going to be Iran, then North Korea, then China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Loas, Cuba, Sudan, Somalia, Suadia Arabia, Yemen, Syria and lastly Russia. Now when you get to each of these countries I want to go about doing and saying whatever you feel like doing and saying.

Now, if you ever make it back to the USA "alive" you can give me YOUR answer on whether or not we are free here in America.

Answer 6

The Constitution guarantees are freedom. We are free. Free to sit back and complain. Free to criticize without becoming involved. Free to elect leaders based on religious background, then free to challenge their policies that were based on their religious background. We are also free to act. To stand up and voice change. To fight the same fight our forefathers fought. Every time we relinquish our freedoms to gain security we take a step backward. Freedom doesn't give us security; in fact, it does just the opposite. It puts us center stage, screaming at the top of our lungs that which we hold dear - our principles. Try saying that in a non-democratic state.

Answer 7

the fact that you can ask this question without any fear should say to you if you are free or not. people in some parts are not even allowed to show their face in US its different, you have the right to change leadership, to speak what you want and many more

the same question in some countries would have received death.

I WOULD SAY THE AMERICANS ENJOY FREEDOM THAN MOST OTHER NATIONS.

at times you are made to feel like a slave by the politicians and their stupid decisions which is temporary

Answer 8

I believe we came full circle of why the pilgrims came across to the new land and why the revoluntunary war was fought over. We came over here to have the freedom of religion. Now we can't even mention christianity without getting rubuked by someone because it "offends them". What happens if someone is offended by some other religion? Then it is a hate crime. America has gone too p.c and that we can't step on other peoples toes because of feelings. Darn it...right is right and wrong is wrong! However, we are freer than other countries and we should still be proud of that! Hats off and thanks to thoes who serve our country! Thank You! I do appreciate what you do! Besides that I think we, as the people, need to regain our country as how our forefathers wanted it to be. The government is getting too powerful and they weren't supposed to be. And it is our job to do something about that.

Answer 9

No, we do not have freedom, only the illusion of freedom. Everyday people are driven to do things they despise by external forces, including the government. The United States has architected a brilliant web of unseen oppression by denoting intellectual dissidents as Communists, drug addicts, liberals, amoralists, and a million other false categorizations. If one wishes to live life in the norm as an average human being, with a job in the corporate structure to protect America's financial interest, or with a job that provides for no freethinking or self-improvement, then America's it. However, if one wishes to explain to those around them the fallacies being uttered by there own government, they are quite often shunned by their peers for violating the "taboo" of questioning their authority. Those same people, depressed by their ostraciztion from society, will lie to themselves and state that there previous enlightenment was false in order to gain re-acceptance wtih their previous group of peers and attain those ultimate comforts of social acceptance.

Answer 10

Compare us to a lot of other countries yes we have a lot more freedoms then most, are we the best off? In a country where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. In all honesty canada may be a better choice, government provided health care and a lower cost of living....Im sold

Answer 11

HUM... What does it mean......well you are free to practice any type religion, your free to wear the types of clothes you like on any given day, your free to speak exactly what you feel with no persecution from anyone. There are so many freedoms we take for granted these are only some examples.