why does the USA say its the freest country in the world?

Question

what makes the usa more freerer that the uk,france,germany, japan and so on. when i went to the usa i thought it was less free than many countries, ie i could not smoke in bars i could not drink on the streets many states have dry free counties. freedom of speach is being taken away with the paitroiot act.

once again u have not told me why u are freere that people in the western world. the uk has some of the biggest companies in the world we are just as free for business and i think u will find ur unemployment is higher on the same level as ours. t hsbc, bp, shell, barclays bank, bae systems, diageo. which owns guiness/smiroff and so on is british ba, virgin and so on all big buiness. once again why are u freere

actually iceland and the uk were the first demorcracys. if i am write in thinking black people did not even have the vote in the usa till the 1960s. so dont give me history. i feel no one can answer this question properly just give rants i tell u why cus the usa is no free-er that any other western country

greg u just quoted english men u talk about business again but i am sure americans dont like the business taken over look at when bp bought amaco american tried to block it. when british banks bought us banks the same thing i thing the uk is the freeest country for business we even are letting our stock market go in a take over. i bet the usa would never let that. once again i dont see the usa in more free. i am sorry t

Answer 1

What the people are told, and frequently believe, is rarely even close to the truth.

Answer 2

I am an American and I agree with the points you make. I am not all that familiar with anyone's government, so I don't know specific limitations of freedom around the globe.

We Americans do seem to have a kind of a superiority complex. I think Australians do too, but a much different kind. I guess it started "in the beginning" because our country was consciously invented, and quite well at that, so national identity was pronounced and celebrated.

Throughout our history, we have often been clearly "the best" at one thing or another, and that sort of thing can really warp perspective.

Our perception of and pride over our national role in the WWII and Cold War era -- as liberators and fighters against tyranny -- was not misplaced then, maybe not even terribly exaggerated.

It's so complicated, so much originates with the politicians, that sometimes it's hard to remember that we are all more alike than not.

ADDED: Good grief, even yesterday May 1 is history. If you are not willing to consider history when you ask how something has come to pass, then you're quite right, no one can answer your...um...whatever it is

Answer 3

True, our freedoms are being eroded by the nanny state (don't smoke here, don't smoke there is a perfect example). However the US is still the least restrictive country that I am aware of. Everyone talks about freedom of speech and privacy etc. but the most important freedom is economic freedom. The ability to go into the marketplace and with talent and sweat create wealth. Wealth equals power and that's a real problem with some people.
As an American I will never hand over my freedom to some bureaucrat EVER! I am not optimistic. One day, and I think that day is coming soon, we as Americans will be fighting in the streets to protect our God given freedoms. Unfortunately, we must be prepared to do that.
One last thing, freedom is not the norm, it is a wonderful aberration. Throughout the history of this planet most states operated under one form of tyranny or another, freedom of any variety was a rare thing indeed. Just remember this, politicians will always promise you something in exchange for your liberty- DON'T BE FOOLED!

Answer 4

I guess it only takes 200 or so years before people forget about the tyranny of monarchies, oligarchies, totalitarianisn, and religious oppression. If it weren't for the USA and other early democracies, Europe and the rest of the world would still be under colonial rule and the rule of despots. As far as smoking goes, people have found that smoking kills and lowers the quality of life. And having drunks wandering and stumbling around the streets isn't too much fun either. And I don't see anyone keeping their opinion to themselves anytime soon. The USA may not say it's the "free-est" country in the world, but it doesn't have to, because being just free is good enough. Thankyou, and have a nice day.

Answer 5

Your question involves a number of rather complex philosophical, moral, and historical issues. And as we all know, a simple answer to a complex question is wrong. That not withstanding, allow me to take a shot at your question.
First, the answer can only be seen in a historical context. The perception that USA is the freest country in the world developed over centuries, not years or decades. It began when it declared its independence from England. At that time European society was based on the rule of kings, queens, and the church in its many forms. America offered a bold experiment in governance, based on the one man one vote principle. That, combined with the geographical vastness of the land, allowed most people to go off and live pretty much as they wished. Compared to England, where the common man lived at the beck and call of his "betters," or what is now Germany, France, Russia, and so on, American was the "land of the free." Over the years, other societies have evolved and developed advanced systems of government which allow for both personal freedoms (freedom to do) and social services such as health care (freedom from), the USA has been eclipsed in many areas. The perception held by most Americans remains that they are the freest people on earth. This is in part because they are a bit provincial and have not traveled to countries like the Netherlands, Iceland, or other sophisticated and highly developed countries.

Answer 6

Ask all of the people who come here to protest KNOWING that they can say whatever they want and do whatever they want and treat the police and other law enforcement personnel like crap, and know that no matter how badly they act THEY WON'T BE LINED UP AGAINST A WALL AND SHOT. Or run over by tanks...you get the message. Heck, you can even shoot, stab, or otherwise attack our police and know that you'll be treated like a celebrity (thanks to the media who's always there to catch the police doing something wrong but never the protester. Well, it's about spreading propaganda and the ratings, anyway).

Also, they don't have to fear the government, which is why you never see protests of Cuba in Cuba, protests of Argentina in Argentina (how many thousands are still missing there), and let's not forget China. Remember Tiananmen Square? That's how a REAL dictatorship deals with dissension. We don't do that in the U.S., and everyone knows it. And let's not forget all of the other REAL dictatorships in the world.

No, the protesters set up the straw man of the 'Horribly Oppressive American Government' (which any thinking individual could see right through) and then defiantly 'tear it down' and show how brave they are. It's pathetic, really, but hatred blocks off common sense.....

Answer 7

How is the freedom of speach being taken away by the patriot act? The freedom to plan an attack? How is it any different from the girl in the UK that got into trouble because she did not want to be in a class with foreign students? Look at the regualtions that governments put on their businesses in other countries and see why businesses have less regulation in the US than other countries and consequently why our businesses are pretty darn succesful. Which of your "freer" countries has a lower unemployment rate. Just what freedoms do other countries have other than legalized drugs and by the way, people VOTED to ban smoking, so the MAJORITY get to breath cleaner air and the minority can still go smoke, we just don't have to breath it.

Answer 8

The USA is a great place with great people but it has some drawbacks.
Every morning school children say the pledge of allegiance which contains the words "liberty and justice for all". The national anthem includes the words "land of the free".
Say something often enough and you'll believe it.
Americans have the freedom to "bear arms" but they are not allowed to bare other parts of the body.

Answer 9

Freedom is a concept and is therefore open to widely differing perceptions.

For most Europeans, the US is no more free than the old Eastern Block countries were. They both have populations that are heavily indoctrinated into the 'Rightness' of their cultures, and both populations operated insular societies that shunned understanding of the outside world.

The US idea of freedom is the freedom to make money unrestrained by any moral consideration or just mechanism.
It is a kind of freedom that was discarded by the European nations after 1945.

Answer 10

70% of all the lawyers on planet Earth live and work in USA. which accounts for 4% of the worlds population, just a thought. The people of USA believe that their country is the only country on Earth.

Answer 11

No idea. I find it bizarre, but then in the UK we have legislation that impinges on personal freedoms and in France it's red tape madness - you even have to choose your child's name from an approved list. Anyway, that's getting away from the subject. Personally, I'd rather be a Limey than a Yank.