## Freedom

Post by Jay Feely » Wed Feb 19, 2014 10:32 am

Freedom is very limited. In USA, you have freedom but not for all things. Are we limited by goverment or by own free will?
You will have to subdue me to restrain me. I been a bad boy so make sure you torture me too with anything but pain.

### Re: Freedom

Post by mikeybound » Wed Feb 19, 2014 12:22 pm

Government is supposed to confine us. It's the people holding themselves to their own standards. When that constraint fails to serve the people, then we have a problem.
As for who's responsible for this, I believe it's a case by case basis. People tolerate politicians, politicians put down dissent. When people reach a breaking point, it's a contest of wills.

### Re: Freedom

Post by Kyle » Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:51 pm

In theory, true freedom is anarchy. The reality of course is this would simply allow the ruthless people to overrun everyone else, which would end up in a dictatorship. The goal of a government, in theory, is supposed to try to find the right balance between keeping social order and keeping people from taking advantage of one another to not going so far as to actively suppress people's freedoms itself. And this is where things get tricky, of course. Where should the line be drawn?
The reality of course is government can very easily be used to abuse freedoms, and people often try to use it to regulate society in ways they believe we should all live to suit their own agendas. In dictatorships, this simply comes down to what one person wants. In democracies/republics like the US, it's harder to accomplish (which is supposed to be one of the purposes) but can still be achieved to a point by those who are shrewd enough.

### Re: Freedom

Post by Jason Toddman » Thu Feb 20, 2014 6:39 am

> Kyle wrote:The reality of course is government can very easily be used to abuse freedoms, and people often try to use it to regulate society in ways they believe we should all live to suit their own agendas. In dictatorships, this simply comes down to what one person wants. In democracies/republics like the US, it's harder to accomplish (which is supposed to be one of the purposes) but can still be achieved to a point by those who are shrewd enough.

Or wealthy enough, more like. Cue the Tea Party.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...