Do we live with the illusion of Freedom, because we want to or because we have to?

Answer 1

the illusion of freedom, for the writer above, is everywhere in american society.
No real freedom to :
1.ELECT A CANDIDATE OF PEOPLE'S CHOOSING:
can't unless:
they have 100 million dollars to run for office
have the support of the real power brokers-
big oil
weapons manufacturers
big business
lobbyists and large 'donations'
must be a democrat or republican to have a chance
must say they are christian and 'for the troops' , etc. or no chance...
2. ACCESS TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES-
try to get in to see your senator once unless you did the 10,000 dollar a plate fund raiser.
3. protection under the law- all are created equal? YOu want to be legally reepresented by a 'public defender' who makes 60, 000 a year or a private attorney who makes 500,000?
Which can you afford and which one defends you better?
4. Am I free to own without excessive taxation on my house ( or lose it) , the gas I buy as a hidden tax, etc.
5. free to drive with auto insurance ( or in this state go to jail) yes , jail if license suspended........
6. 'free' to live in a 'peaceful' world we influence to fear and hate to sell more weapons and influence.
7. 'free' to breathe smog choked air and have no say in cleaner air?
8. 'free' to be denied healthcare to the poor if no health insurnace , EVEN in emergency centers they are cast aside and rejected in crisis.
9. 'free' to get the same exact news stories from the major network talking heads as the real news in the rest of the world is ignored...........
10. 'free' to work 2 jobs and wife work full time as kids are neglected while believing they are living the american dream and lied to by media influence drivel such as "there is no inflation' lies to public as housing, gas, health care , health insurance, food, cars, etc at record costs........
"gee they tell me there's no inflation , so it must be true...

Answer 2

In what way is it an illusion? Give me a concrete example or a detailed explanation and then I will try to answer your question.

I do not think our freedom is an illusion. I work with people who have moved to the USA from 22 different countries (I work in the hospitality industry - it is a very international industry), and the reasons my colleagues have moved here is for the freedom and prosperity America offers. America's not perfect, but life is good here and we are more free than most.

Answer 3

In the US we still do have some freedoms. And, it's better to err on the side of thinking we are more free than we actually are. Otherwise, it gets too depressing. There are also different ways to look at the concept of freedom. Here's an authoritarian view, from candidate Rudi Giuliani:

"freedom is not a concept in which people can do anything they want, be anything they can be. Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do."

Answer 4

Both..humans desire (or need) freedom, if it is an illusion then it is because we cannot (in our own minds) resign our lives to the control of someone else. Even children resist their own parents...