Americans have alot of freedoms outlined in the constitution... what in those freedoms actually makes us free individuals? Why do we have the freedom to be who we want to be? What kind of freedom is the most influential in our life?
2006-12-13 00:35:36 · 12 answers · asked by Krystyna 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Interesting question.
Freedom is based on rights. The 3 basic rights that are essential for people to be considered "free" are: life, liberty, property.
If the government is able to arbitrarily take your life, because of your religion or political views or ethnicity, such as what Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot and Saddam Hussein have done, then you have no freedom. Without being secure in your life, what matters the other freedoms?
Liberty is essential to being human. Freedom to express oneself, to live as one chooses, to be free from government interference is necessary to be free. If one has no freedom of expression or religion or from government intrusion, one is not free.
Property is also necessary. This means your business, your personal wealth and your property. A government that does not respect property rights is a tyranny, and a threat to all freedoms. Even the shrewdest policital mind, Machiavelli, understood this when he said that taking a man's life was less an offense and affront to the citizenry than taking his home.
It is hard to say which is most influential, as they all are equally necessary to have freedom.
2006-12-13 00:54:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are we really as "free" as convince ourselves?
Look over history and see what has really changed.
1. The majority of people still work to create wealth for a few.
2. Most of us work hard for long ours and are still over extended - compelling us to work more. And is the liberty to spend one's "free time" as one chooses actually "freedom?"
3. Our elected officials are almost all part of the cultural and economic elite - in both parties.
4. We are bombarded with advertising from birth that tells us a) who we should be and b) who we are generally sucks.
5. We have generally the same prejudices now that we did 300 years ago. We are better with some, but just as silly and ignorant with others.
6. When I call my congressman I get to leave a message on an answering machine or with some intern. When a prominent businessperson calls his or her congressman - they go out to dinner.
What then is freedom? The "right" to work 60+ hours a week so you can buy the car you want, wear the clothes you like, listen to music with profanity, watch pornography, and own a gun? All if it mass produced - so we can be individuals, just like everyone else.
2006-12-13 01:49:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Americans are free because freedom is practiced in America. There are countries that do only lip service to freedom, but in the final analysis they curtail the freedom of their citizens. All the freedoms stipulated in the constitution guarantee our freedom. One freedom we do not have is the freedom to be who we want to be. We can not be criminals, terrorists, or plot the destruction of our government.Freedoms have a price, a commitment and a respect for other peoples freedom.
2006-12-13 13:27:00 · answer #3 · answered by willgvaa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the founding fathers of our country had the wisdom to make freedom the most important part of our constitution.
2006-12-13 00:52:25 · answer #4 · answered by Michael 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Americans are free because, they never wanted to be ruled by any other nations. In the sense that, they never wanted to be the least, but always at the higher peaks in everything they do. On the other hand, the ratification of the constitution and the Andrew Jackson s year set American forth on the higher peaks.
2016-11-03 02:23:41 · answer #5 · answered by Hythoson 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are free because we fought for our independence and won. We remain free because we are still willing to fight for our freedom.
All of our freedoms are important.
The last I heard, America is paying an awful lot of money for a barrel of oil these days. How is that stealing?
2006-12-13 00:54:08 · answer #6 · answered by Firespider 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I like freedom of speech!!
2006-12-13 00:55:28 · answer #7 · answered by kyrieous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Second amendment baby! If it wasn't for that we would not be free, that is why the Dems are trying to get rid of it.
2006-12-13 00:55:07 · answer #8 · answered by cyberfuel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because we pay taxes, participate in the decision making process.
2006-12-13 00:38:05 · answer #9 · answered by Wael 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do you want to enslave them instead?
2006-12-13 03:56:53 · answer #10 · answered by Dr.O 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋