2007-09-26 15:13:22 · 10 answers · asked by GUHoyasRock 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, he spoke of "freedom." His reference was to that of finance. His thought being that the more money one has the more options are made available to them. The more free they are to choose. Those with little or no money are much less free and are in fact, held slave to their creditors.
It's a sad commentary, but during the Clinton years our elected representatives voted (and signed into law) to allow interest rates on loans and credit cards to be raised to 30%. They were answering not to the people but rather the lobbyists for the financial institutions.
During the early G.W. Bush years, those same lobbyists then pushed for laws tightening the requirements regarding eligibility to file bankruptcy. This too passed into law. Now, people are feeling the wrath of lenders to whom they've defaulted and are losing their homes and paying astronomical credit card debt. Their freedom is lost.
To this end I say, liberty and freedom are not one and the same.
2007-09-26 15:36:30 · answer #1 · answered by Doc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
John Locke had the best answer: "Freedom of men under government is to have a standing rule to live by, common to every one of that society, and made by the legislative power vested in it; a liberty to follow his own will in all legal things and not to be subject to the inconstant, unknown, arbitrary will of another man."
2007-09-26 15:18:49 · answer #2 · answered by David M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is lawful for you to do anything you are physically able to do without involving other people voluntarily, and no one else is permitted to involve you involuntarily in any activity, and you are not required by force to participate in any kind of economic activity, nor required by force to share your economic activities against your will.....
you are free.
2007-09-26 15:18:22 · answer #3 · answered by open4one 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its the power to decide what you are thinking , doing making your own choises in life
2007-09-26 15:18:21 · answer #4 · answered by lala 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What goes on behind my bedroom door is my own gddmned business.
2007-09-26 15:34:01 · answer #5 · answered by Hoopo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
overrated. People are most of the time too stupid to decide for themselves. As a result, total rule must be exerted by someone who is trained like a politician.
2007-09-26 15:18:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Something America used to have before we decided to allow religion to rule our government.
2007-09-26 15:34:22 · answer #7 · answered by God 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Do whatever you want but allow others to do the same thing.
2007-09-26 15:19:28 · answer #8 · answered by amalone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Self control and individual responsibility.
2007-09-26 15:16:45 · answer #9 · answered by Don C 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Something that you can't understand and adore unless you don't have it.
2007-09-26 15:22:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋