Are we free?

Question

Were, as human beings, did we lose our freedom? did we ever have it? If so, how can we get it back?

Answer 1

Wish we were really free . We are always tied to our desires/prejudices/ambitions/esteem and we keep working on such like all the time .
If we free ourselves from these shackles and lead 'detached 'life, then we can be geuinely free.
Most of the time, we end up living for others- family,friends, colleagues, society etc.

Answer 2

Humankind lost many of its personal freedoms when agriculture began and we started forming cities. A city *requires* cooperation to function, and disruptive elements must be controlled, or the city dies. Laws are formed. More and more restrictions are created.

Now, several thousand years later, we are finally looking for ways to restore as much individual freedom as possible, but you can't get away from the need to cooperate. There will always be restrictions.

The USA offers freedom from slavery, freedom from persecution, the freedom to vote, and freedom of expression.

However, these freedoms are relative. You could argue that minimum wage jobs and field labor are forms of slavery. Persecution can take many shapes, e.g. collections actions, lawsuits, hate speech, racism, and political domination. Freedom to vote is valuable only when people use it, which they often don't, but even if they do, we need competent people to run for office.

As for freedom of expression, I think the USA shines in that department. Most people have opportunities to speak their mind publicly, if they wish to. We can criticize our government. We can criticize religions (within reason, watch out for hate speech) without fear of being executed. We can make political sketches of Christ or Buddha without the country being thrown into mass riots.

Are we free? Decide for yourself. Americans have the basics of freedom. My personal feeling is that some of us are given head starts, by money or race, and that others are pushed back, but that any of us can ahieve our goals, if the goals are sensible and if we try hard enough.

Answer 3

NO !

By definition -
Free - unrestrained
governed - controlled by

We have not been FREE since we established the first continental congress.

We are allowed.

We are allowed to do what we want "IF" we pay for it.

Want to drive?
Pay for the drivers license, and the registration and the inspection.

Want to live in a home?
Pay the taxes or it is sold by sheriff sale.

Want to marry?
Pay for a marriage license?

Want to improve your home?
Pay for a permit and inspections and higher taxes.

Want to take a Dump?
Pay for the sewer and water treatment plant in fees and taxes.
Use a septic system you need a permit and inspections.

We are not free at all.

Plus add on the fact that in some way no matter what you want to do there is a law, regulation, ordinance, tax, fee, cost, procedure, inspection or what ever to do with it.

You want to poop, there are a ton of laws about what to do with the waste.

Even if you want to breath, there are many laws controlling the air quality, wether or not you should wear a dust mask or respirator, etc.

You can't even DIE free... Your body has to be taken care of in certain ways, and "disposed of properly."

You are not free and have never been free. You buy the things that you want to be able to do...

Try not paying for a license plate on your car and see what happens.

Answer 4

We are free to choose. There are social, legal and physical boundaries and regulations, but essencially every human being by definition is free to choose. Think of the boundaries as a speed limit: You can go faster, but you're liable for your behavior. That's the same with life... The choice is yours.

Answer 5

Society, peer pressure, cultural values, religion, and the government have taken away so many freedoms that most don't realize just how little we have left.

But internally, using your own mind and free will, you will always have limitless freedom that nobody can take unless you let them.

Answer 6

are you friggin nuts? ? ?

the most freedom we have is clicking away on our lil computers.

even there.. you're not free.

go out side .. cameras everywhere... you're not free.

thank heaven i'm in america where i don't have to be a commie, but man, i wish we DID have real freedom...

Answer 7

We are free to move within the boundaries of society's norms, laws, expectations, behaviors, etc., etc., so the answer is no.

Answer 8

even without government, we were not free from nature, nature still hold us in it's boundaries without everything we have turned the world we share with animals, reptiles and various other species into.

Answer 9

yes. we are free... free to choose whether to free ourselves from restrictions or free to let ourselves be restricted by norms, standards, laws, regulations, etc.. which by the way are made by our own society. we held our own hands by our own norms compelling us to cry for our own freedom. in reality it is us who renounce our own liberty.

Answer 10

we will always be free to choose between good and evil. we have destroyed our planet with pollution, destroyed ourselves with greed. no we cannot get the past back.