(no subject)
I find that the only days in which I pay attention in Philosophy are the days that we have discussions. Today's discussion was on freedom. Are we truly free?
A lot of people think that america is the free-est country in the world. Sure, that may be true...but does that mean we are truly free? We have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and freedom to protest.
Or do we?
Patriot act, sociatle (new word, you heard it here first) prejudice, political correctness, and lawsuits. Nope, doesn't seem to free to me.
Sure, in individual aspects we may APPEAR to be (or might actually be) free, but as a whole america isn't TRULY free. We have rights, yes, but not freedom. I can't just shoot anyone I want. I can't take anything I want, I can't truly DO anything that I want. We have limited freedom. Very limited freedom.
Hell, even our government isn't an enbodyment of freedom. We, as a nation, are a Republic. Not a democracy. We do NOT elect our president. Our votes go to an electoriate, who then casts his/her vote on his/her choiced candidate. They are not LEGALLY BOUND to vote for who they are told to. One of the biggest flaws in our society, but also a necessary one. Personally, I don't want billy-bob-joe who married his sister and had 15 kids voting for my leader.
Any government that relies on a simple majority in decisions isn't truly free.
Frankly, if we were a truly free country, George W Bush would NOT be the President.
A lot of people think that america is the free-est country in the world. Sure, that may be true...but does that mean we are truly free? We have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and freedom to protest.
Or do we?
Patriot act, sociatle (new word, you heard it here first) prejudice, political correctness, and lawsuits. Nope, doesn't seem to free to me.
Sure, in individual aspects we may APPEAR to be (or might actually be) free, but as a whole america isn't TRULY free. We have rights, yes, but not freedom. I can't just shoot anyone I want. I can't take anything I want, I can't truly DO anything that I want. We have limited freedom. Very limited freedom.
Hell, even our government isn't an enbodyment of freedom. We, as a nation, are a Republic. Not a democracy. We do NOT elect our president. Our votes go to an electoriate, who then casts his/her vote on his/her choiced candidate. They are not LEGALLY BOUND to vote for who they are told to. One of the biggest flaws in our society, but also a necessary one. Personally, I don't want billy-bob-joe who married his sister and had 15 kids voting for my leader.
Any government that relies on a simple majority in decisions isn't truly free.
Frankly, if we were a truly free country, George W Bush would NOT be the President.