Are we really free?

Question

We are given rules that we must follow. We are told that if we dont follow these rules we will be locked away. Why do the police have the power to enforce these rules and hold us against our wills? We buy our own land but are told that we cannot build without permission, we are not aloud to inhale the smoke of a natural plant because it is bad for us. Are we really as free as we think?

In response to me making this about smoking- i was just using that as an example. i personally dont smoke pot.

Answer 1

freedom itself is not free.

Answer 2

No, people are not free. But not because we are a part of a system which has certain rules we must obey so that the system could function. It's because we always care about what others think about us. We are not free to be ourselves.
If I had more time at this moment, I'd explain it better. But this is a good start if you wanna do some thinking.

Answer 3

To be free, is to make choices at our will, rules (the law) does sometimes restrict this...

But what if you look at it this way...

The law and rules thereof are there to allow us assistance in terms of making our choice, it guides us in a manner that would be humane...eg. Your'e driving home from work and from out of the blue a kid runs onto the road, you we driving the set km's and we not doing anything wrong, but from your actions the kid dies, Me being the kids mom, want sto see "justice" done. Here the law comes into place to find the right and just solution.

The law i agree, is not always correct, and the right solution does not always occur, but if we did not have it then all the wrong, immoral and injust actions would occur more often than not...

Answer 4

The price we pay to live in a civilized society is a bit of our freedom. Man is not an absolutely free creature. Even his nature is governed by spiritual and physical laws. We have the freedom to choose, to exercise our will whether or not we will obey, but that's about it. There are powers that be that are bigger than us, natural and man made, so we must yield and see our limitations. People that don't end up creating all kinds of discord for themselves.

Answer 5

we are free and arnt free all at the same time . i know that sounds awkward but why people say amercans are "free" is because we have many more rights then many other people. But if we were free without law possibly all would be dead. laws creat protection and saftey. i know i sound like a nagy teacher but it is true. some laws have no need though for saftey but they also keep things organized if these laws the econmics, and possible a worse and more destructible "great depression" wouls happen. people would go out of buisness because there would be no copyright law and people would steal. But yes to b e free we must be locked up in secuitity pillowd if you understand. no time in any furture will be completely free or else all would fall apart. this is a question you really have to think about. because sumtimes you think laws and rules are unfair, (i sure do) but say if there was no child labor laws, well sure kids could make money but they would make as much money as the illegals make. and adults woukld take advantage of you and minimum wage. thats why child labor laws were made. and thats also why they DIDNT resttrict things like kids doing yardwork or cleaning for money because they wanted understanding of the kids also. but also not alot of people would employ a kid because they might think there work could be worthless and that brings me to descrimination. All though we have discrimination laws, people still break it we have a law thats breaks that law. but goverment make these laws with very fine print to make it very unfair and make it very fair for themsleves. i hope you under stand contact me if you dont

Answer 6

You had to make this into a smoking discussion? Get over yourself, pothead. We are living under a set of rules that we have agreed upon in order to protect ourselves and our assets. there are lot's of places in the world that you can go that have different rules. Pot isn't illegal because it's "bad for you" it's illegal because you get messed up and you could make bad decisions that hurt other people. We are as free as you can get without sacrificing safety.

EDIT: I apologize for the pothead cracks, if you don't smoke. I jsut don't think that's the best example. Seatbelt laws, however, do nothing to protect anyone other than the person wearing them. There should not b laws forcing a person to protect themselves, that's why pot laws are ok, seatbelt not.

Answer 7

For the freedom you are describing you have to get back into the past, very very old past!!!!
Of course that there must be some rules in this world!
Start with some rules in your own home too. Don't tell me that you don't have it and that they are not useful.

Answer 8

No, the government is overstepping it's boundaries on many levels. Yes, to a great extent we are- I can say, write and and do things that other citizens of other countries could not do. But, the government is ineffective and I believe that there needs to be a TOTAL rehaul- maybe almost from scratch, back to the Bill of Rights rehaul. This is not what our founding fathers envisioned and everything that they did think could happen that they tried to preemptive fix with our Constituition- the government has maligned it to mean what they want when it serves their needs. Our government is slowly hanging itself with its citizens and huge noneffective spending. The backlash will come when everyone notices that and there will be a rehaul or revolution.

Answer 9

Freedom is a horrible word. No person on this planet is free, We are all bound by various degrees of containment: Geographic, legal, cultural, physical, ect. No one claims freedom from the collection of forces restricting the choices or actions we make. In reality, freedom is an idea that really means "less containment" .

Answer 10

In what mind frame do you approach this question? What do you consider "freedom"? Some people will say true freedom will lead to utter chaos. And what kind of freedom do you mean? I THINK you are referring to our government--your questions all question it. I guess, if you ARE referring to our government, no, we aren't really free. But we are at a happy medium, or at least are close. I mean, we have a pretty reasonable amount of freedom. And enough rules to keep everything in order.

Answer 11

Take some time and research how people are living in other countries. Compare how they are living and how you are living. They are living without the daily necessities that they need in order to survive. Yes in order to survive. They don't worry about if they get the newest XBOX game or if they are going to get to go out to this great movie this weekend. They are worrying about food, shelter, safety and if they will live another day. Sometimes living another day is inconceivable because each day there is pain and suffering. So take some time and research how people are living in other worlds. Show alittle empathy. Do some community work or even donate to a charity. Are we a free country? In comparison to many many countries we are FREE!!! Live it and breathe it but most importantly appreciate it!!!