Subversity
http://subversify.com/2010/10/29/freedom-its-discontents/comment-page-1/#comment-47484 is a very good article in my opinon. It addresses the issue of freedom and it's definition. It sets forth a brief history of the concept of freedom, and in the process points out, at least to me, exactly what the current debate between those of us who consider ourselves liberal and those on the right mean.
As a brief statement, admittedly infused with my oponion, we on the progressive side are fighting for freedom for all. ALL regardless of fortunate or unfortunate economic situation while the Right is fighting for the FREEDOM of the rich, the freedom of Big Business to do pretty much what it wants unencumbered by governemental regulation.
Now, I WORK for a large corporation, and if it werent for the union I wouldnt have diddity squat. The company certainly doesnt and hasnt given me anything, regardless of how much their profits were dependent on my efforts. Some people blame unions for the evils of society, and I cant deny that unions often fail to do the right thing. Sometimes, and even often, it is "politics as usual". But a major point to remember, in my not so humble opinion is that it was NOT the unions that gave top officers in companies about to go bankrupt millions of dollars in bonuses. It was not unions that outsourced jobs to third world countries. It was the "wonderful" American big corporation that did those things.
Now I agreed with the bail out...mostly because I realized that if the banks went belly up, or the car industry hit the dust, that many more Americans would be out of jobs and the economy would be in even worse shape that it already was. But I do NOT think that the corporations should have been allowed to pay huge bonuses to executives with that money....nor should they be provided all the fringe benefits they have been.
I have heard a lot of people talk about "this is a free country".and they follow that up with an argurment that Obama is the most anti business president etc...as thought freedom and Business have anything to do with one another in this situation. I would go further, being rather bluntl in my thought process, and say that business is the very enemy of the freedom of the common man...so if you are fighting for free businessess....you are fighting to have the common man put down in so many ways it isnt funny. (basically defending the "freedom" of the rich to use and abuse all of the rest of us)
Now we (defined as many in this country; especially on the conservative side of the aisle) seem to want to spend hundreds of billions on an ill-adviced war in Iraq. Incidently, I stand firm as one who has ALWAYS been opposed to that war. while being in favor of the one in Afganastan UNTIL we lost all focus on the mission by our little detour to "get Saddam"----a guy we helped to put in office in the first place..another case of us playing god with the world political balance) On the other hand some of those same people are against anything, like health care reform which they insist on calling "Obamacare" that is to help US....you know...we the American people as opposed to the money glutted corporations. Now, dont misunderstand me, I dont think that the health care reform bill is perfect or even that good. However, the REASON I think it is not is that it allowed the Insurance Companies (talk about vested interests...even conflict of interest) to have too MUCH input. In other words it didnt go far enough. But at least it is a starting point and maybe someday we can do more to get the greed out of medicine.
Which is why I say that the Subversity article is right on. The argument is about freedom and what it means. Is it freedom for ALL as we progressives maintain, or freedom of the big dog to kill and eat the little one as I hear the conservatives asserting?
I guess we as a country will decide this issue in two days and then in two years...(the next two elections) but trust me when I say, you will find ME voting for freedom for all....even when that requires strong government intervention in the rampant greed of the corporations. And heavan help us, the rank and file American if the conservatives win...I fear for our very continued existance.