What freedoms does the US have that other countries don't?

Question

Before I start, I want to assure everyone that I'm not anti-American at all, and that this question is based on curiosity.

I've heard a lot of Americans talking about the freedoms they have as an American, and some who seem to think that the US is the only with those freedoms. Are there any freedoms that the US has that the UK, Canada, and Australia, for instance, don't have? Please try to answer in a tolerant way.

sherpa_jones - you can buy private healthcare here in the UK.

We also have freedom of speech, the press and right to protest in the UK, and I'm pretty sure Australia and Canada have those things too.

So far, I agree that the right to bear arms is something the US has and the UK hasn't, though I think Canada does. And the smoking in pubs thing is something the US has and the UK doesn't.

Answer 1

None, We are told we have all these freedoms but when reality sets in, We do as we are told and nothing more.

Answer 2

I used to live in Europe and I used to get this question all the time:

I know for one...The government doesn't control our media (tv, radio, internet etc) as much as in other countries. I noticed that in other countries, like France, only certain non-French programs and songs were allowed to be shown/played. We still have some censorship though.

Another thing is the freedom to start any kind of business that we want. Ex: Girls Gone Wild or YouTube...After all We are the land of Opportunity LOL

"The Right to Bare Arms"- Meaning we have the right to acquire fire arms for personal protection, hunting etc. I know in other countries people go hunting, but you don't have to be a licensed hunter to get a gun and it's fairly easy to get one. Most other countries in the world do not allow their citizens to own such weapons for any reason whatsoever. A lot of people debate whether this is a good freedom or not.

We can also travel to almost any country we want, as where some people are forced to obtain a visa <
Any natural born US citizen, over the age of 35 who has served in the armed forces can run for president

Idk...what else... there are many more but this is what I can think of off the top of my head. Most of us are not really aware of the exact rights of people in other countries have. I mean the UK is pretty similar to the US, because they dont really play by all the EU rules and that's why their economy works so well. Our neighbor to the North, Canada, has legal gay marriage and universal health care and we do not. I think that compared to many other nations, the UK, Australia and Canada are the most like the US. Mostly because there is no language barrier and because the UK is often our automatic ally.

But I hope that answers the question somewhat

Answer 3

Here is an open minded and candid view of the freedoms many believe are only found in America........

The U.K. has better social services, and has been a freedom favoring country for many years.

Canada follows similarly with the U.K.

From an outside view, people hear songs about America and freedom, and question whether it's only America that has it.

Many nations today have followed America's path for freedom for it's citizens, with limitations.

America has lax laws and criminals have a better chance of getting fair justice than innocent people do.

Therefore, the freedom that you hear about is biased toward those with the most money or power.

Average, working type people get screwed around with all the time.

They haven't a strong enough voice in government to get what they deserve.

Yet, even the poorest usually get better treatment than the poor in many other nations.

However, America being capitalist, those with the most money get the best of everything.

In other words, you can buy your freedom in America.

Hope this gives you a better view of what this much ballyhooed freedom is all about.

Answer 4

Actually there are more countries than just the US that has freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Adding the counrties that offer national health care also have private insurance companies that supply health care. The USA is not just the only free country in the world and with all the previous answers not too many people realize that. Also many other countries have some freedoms that we don't enjoy either. I think if more peopler researched that they would realize the USA is not all it's cracked up to be..

Answer 5

In the UK, there's less of a cultural emphasis on criticizing differences as there is here. Legal freedom is one thing, cultural freedom is another.

I really do think that in Europe, people try almost too hard to get along--and it doesn't work out. We tend to air our differences instead, and that's our best way of working through them.

We also don't have state-run media. That's something the UK does have, and as a journalist, it always bothered me.

Answer 6

About the only thing that I can think of that Americans have differently to any of these countries is a more open view on guns, however I would say that this is more socially acceptable in the USA to own and brandish a gun, and therefore there aren't any apparent freedoms in America, that are laws, that aren't available in most of the western world, or even in much of the eastern world.

Answer 7

I never thought of it that way, because the U.S., U.K.,Canada and Australia pretty much have the same freedoms and right the U.S. has. I guess it's because the U.S. has more large cities and variates of different climates. I mean, the U.S. has a large popular city in most every state. Compare climates, Canada is cold and snowy, U.K. is cold and rainy, and Australia is hot and dry. In the U.S., Maine is freezing and snowy, North Carolina is Average and Florida is hot and more of the beach. I don't think that it matters of freedom, I think now people just care about popularity and size.

Answer 8

Im not sure what freedoms the UK, Canada, and Austrailia dont have. The US has freedom of speach, freedom of religion, freedom on petition, the right to a fair trail in court (innocent until proven guilty).

Answer 9

Freedom is, on the simplest level, a glittering generality that is used to create blind patriotism. I think most Americans would use Freedom of Speech as justification for America's greatness, but that doesn't seem to be a good argument anymore (if you've been following the actions of the Bush Administration).

Answer 10

Its hard to say, every country is different. Main one is freedom of speech. But like other european countries are lax on a lot of other things.

Answer 11

it is incredibly lots equivalent, from my experience. with the exception of in Europe you have a precise to existence, while in the U. S., nicely, no longer lots with the dying penalty and all... i think of the rights and freedoms of the two the persons of the U. S. and different international locations are being eroded by using the day, notwithstanding.