If we were over powered by people wanting freedom,?
457940
Obsession with National Security:\nFear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.\n\nObsession with Crime and Punishment:\nUnder fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.\n\nThese are 2 characteristics of Fascism, all 14 characteristics can be viewed at the link provided.
727895
It sounds like you are an independent American capable of thinking and wanting what is right for the country. Now if we can just get our "leaders" to listen maybe we can fix this country.
915487
It sounds like you've answered your own question.  There is still a problem in figuring our what the  culture wants and what some individuals in that culture might want.  Individual freedom should be balanced against the desires of the majority.
595217
If that is slavery, what is freedom to you? Freedom to not persue anything? Is that what you call freedom?\n\nThe American dream might be elusive, but to those who strive to get it, usually does, or else the concept might have died long ago.\n\nYes, I was indebt, too. But I had the FREEDOM to pay it off. I never displaced any of my responsibility to anyone else, keeping in mind the freedom to do and rise at a greater height than what I could reach, so as NOT to blame a "system" to my short comings.\n\nYou are only a slave if you view yourself as such. But if see yourself as a free man realizing his potential and applying his unbound liberty to rise among the rest, then you are trully a free man.\n\nBut yet, some are too lazy to do something at this freedom. Instead, succumbs to blame, mostly displacing it other than themselves. They are slaves... Slaves to themselves and their weakness, never realizing their potential.
770782
i HEAR you. weee should have them freedom . But nah, fuh`reaking dumb hed laws that we aint alow to.
1083659
Its in human nature to be self-centered and greedy most of the time..... especially in the US.....  i would assume the people in power would ask, "Whats in it for me?"
411414
yes  we  are  having alot of  freedoms  stripped  like  privacy  and   rights  of  beliefs   in our  constitution   we  were  founded  on, and  also  rights  taken  by   others  due  to thier  feelings   of  it  and   causing  a  movement  to   feel better  and   blame   people  they  feel  are  to  blame ,  our  american  jobs  are  going  everywhere  else  instead  of  home, we  are forced  to  pay  high  gas  prices  and   live  on  nothing   and  pay it, we  are used  and  left  behind   who  do  i  talk  about  the   little  people  the  people  left  with   reality  of  what counts   the  american who has  to  stick it out in  the  hard times  and  feel   hope  and   not  back  down  for  thier  are  no  other  way  too  make  it  with  scraps  you live  on.
699647
We must remember that the principal instrument of government is coercion and that our government officials are no more moral, omnipotent, nor omniscient than are any of the rest of us. Once we understand the basic principles which must be observed if freedom is to be safeguarded against government, we may become more hesitant in turning our personal problems and responsibilities over to that agency of coercion, with its insatiable appetite for power
142351
more laws = less freedom\nmore centralized power = less liberty
79570
There should be a good balance between freedom and security and most times in america's history we have tried to do that. Now there seems to be more security and less freedom.  We have to have a balnce and i don't know what it is going to be but i hope there is one soon, for all our sakes.
879640
I believe there is to a certain extent. I think that some powerful and rich people put their money where there mouth is, so to speak. They decided the time had come to change the perspective of the majority by using thier money to promote the changes they see as productive for our country. In order to continue to live in a free country we must allow freedom. Who is behind it, well I assume that perhaps George Soros may have much power behind the scenes so he might be one. We  cant have it both ways folks. Either we are free or we are not. The government regulating our sex lives is too much. The government is not our daddy nor do we need one. Allow everyone the freedom to be who they are and quit harrassing them.
803991
Absolutely not. Men and women fought, died and were horrifically wounded in 2 world wars to ensure freedoms that included a range of civil liberties that we now take so much for granted that we seem to care less as they are being progressively eroded by those in positions of power in this country. We are the most spied on citizens in the "free" world, and our freedoms are being taken away by the day. Those vociferous people who constantly repeat the politician's and police mantra that "if you have done no wrong, you have nothing to fear" will be the first to complain when we are subjugated, monitored and controlled to such a degree, in the not too distant future, that they are no longer allowed to even voice their protest.  We are calmly sleep-walking into a totalitarian police state, and most of the responders in this forum appear to think that's fine. I despair for our future, and our liberty, when you have so blithely let it go.
960674
Well you are not alone in feeling a revolution needs to happen.  Many countries all over the world, including Canada which is where I am from keep hearing these politicians issuing statements such as "when we came to power".  They seem to forget who gave them power.  The whole political structure needs reviewing.  Through out the so called Democratic world, we have allowed a reversal of the way things are supposed to be.  We ask for protection and economic management, but instead get laws, restriction, and control.  Politicians seem to ignore written constitutions which BELONG TO THE PEOPLE.  They are supposed to uphold these terms and conditions.  We have allowed it to happen, and need to understand that politics will not change unless we make them change.  It's our car, and they are the chauffeurs.  We want a ride not to be told how to sit.  They will not change unless we change and that is by making our demands fully apparent.
1115260
Just because people choose not to handle it,doesn't mean they couldn't have. It's all part of our freedom to choose.
297094
Oil, delusions of grandure, and an experiment to see where are the limits of authoritarian power can be projected at home and abroad. \nYou can supress civil liberties easily if there was a war on.\nWe have people, unqualified, of limited vision, poisened by greed in charge of things.  I guess these people wanted to see them selves glorified in equestrian statues.
215141
it would be ridiculous anarchy. This is a perfect distopia without purpose or ambition. It would also be instantly corruptable because it goes against everthing that is human nature. If people enjoyed working for nothing they wouldn't be people, they'd be bees. It's ridiculous and naive.
408808
Thats a good question and you are certainly NOT a freak for asking it! I certainly think there is more to it than the 'powers that be' would like us to think. It is ALWAYS healthy to ask questions of those who govern/control, otherwise we become ignorant sheep.