anyone else notice the lose of freedoms?
925249
Friend, this is the same all over the western world.  In the UK we have recently had a trial of a far right-wing politician who was prosecuted for calling Islam a "wicked and vicious religion."  He was found not guilty of any crime, so now the Blair government wants to change the law.\n\nNow, I totally disagree with his view about Islam, but like Voltaire I would defend to the death his right to say it.  For me better to get all the arguments out in the open and debate them.  If something is wrong or even evil, light is the best disinfectant.\n\nBy trying to bury debate and free speech today, all the politicians are doing is storing up revolution for tomorrow.
405292
its waning, I'm not even aloud to talk about my God anymore, but that doesnt stop me.  freedom of speech is becoming a myth in this country
984399
I would say both. The American values are  being lost based upon apathy of the American public who are more concerned about the high definition TV than they are about world conditions. There is less religion in the home, less manners being taught, less parent involvement with their children, less self discipline. There is more of self serving gratification, have to have more bling bling and toys to play with. Less caring for fellow man and your neighbor. What is rightfully termed as the "Me Generation". Little accomplishments, less education and poor production within the work place. \nDon't get angry I am pointing out a analysis that was done some years ago called Work Force 2000. It pretty much summed up these trends and they do seem to be taking place. \nAs far as personal freedoms go that is based upon the current administration and the security scare tactics which has put into place the patriot act to control the masses. I might add that few  people got upset over their rights being diminished. Per Ben Franklin "The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either".
727716
They do not lose freedoms.  Because the Federal Government has exercised a constitutional right to wiretap international phone calls does not mean people have 1984 style Big Brother like lives.\n\nAlso, anyone who doesn't want to have to go through more airport security has obviously forgotten what a lack of security lead to on the morning of Sept 11, 2001
462797
It has already happened (Arkansas)in one form. If you have a child in the car under 6. People are remarkable in their willingness to accept laws to take away anothers personal freedom in the name of ???? safety? The problem with that is it opened the door for taking away some personal freedom that you enjoy. It has gotten to the point that it just feeds upon itself and soon all our personal freedoms will be banished for fear of??????? so your answer is YES.
195886
Yes ... much better off.\nNo ... much worse off.\n\nI guess it balances itself out.
896745
I am a Liberal, but the political correctness has truly gotten out of hand, it is to the point now where it actually infringes on freedom of speech, and that is what we are all about defending!
800269
We have already lost too much freedom. If you have no freedom then you are no more than a slave, and if you are a slave,you do not live a human life. Therefore, you are as good as dead anyway and might as well fight.
672587
Sure. If people are given the freedom to whatever they want like they want to, it turns out they'll just sit around being bored. How true it is.
154424
I think there is a balance but Bush has overstepped that in favior of taking away our right to privacy in the name of the war on terror. Terrorism does exist however I think that if we give up rights then the terroist have won. We need to stick to the things in our constitution that made our country free and great.
1168864
Of course we don't have as much freedom as we did 30 yrs ago. There are cameras everywhere, we can't smoke, our children have to have social security numbers, paranoia runs rampant as any stranger is a potential child molestor or terrorist, we have restrictions on what can be brought into schools, federal buildings, etc, we have metal detectors, there are more rules and restrictions and fees in every aspect of our life, we have Homeland Security, and now our civil liberties are being taken away. In essence we have traded our freedoms to become safer but are we any safer than before? No. Our borders are not sealed, we can't eradicate terorism, or prevent crime, we can't legislate consciousness. I am amazed when people say 1984 passed and nothing happened. Perhaps we are not able to see what has happened to us objectively.
671943
false sense of freedom. fuks over the minority, because majority wins it doesn't mean they are right
390887
Are going???????  ...Don't you really mean to say: Have already gone?    ...Indeed, we are looking at a very sad and dangerous heading for our hard-fought democracy.   Poor founding fathers have been shaking in their bones for some time now, I'm afraid.   I truly wonder: Have we really taken good enough care of the wonderful and immeasurable heritage they had left us?   It is much harder to recover our lost liberties than to lose them.   ...The worst crimes in this world have always been committed and justified in the name of the best and the holiest of intentions.
888684
I think that most people in our country today have no idea what it is like to go without!!  Most of us in America have no idea what injustice and No freedom means, therefore so many of us take it for granted!!! There is no perspective...there is nothing in most of our experience to compare it to!!! All of the groundwork was laid out for us by our forefathers!!! If we don't take an active seat in forming the laws, our country could come out of hand ....my best recommendation is to let everyone in your circle know how very important it is to retain our freedoms and use our tools for stabilizing this free country we are living n today!!! In world History we have seen mightier fall!!!
400141
I agree in part with you. Sans the biblical reference and the "lock down". I feel it has been this administrations agenda all along to implement National I.D. card with micro chips...maybe even implanted directly in to our own skin. What I feel is needed more than a lock down is a revolution of the people. Just as Americans revolted against the original King George...We need to step and and revolt against King George W....We need OUR AMERICA back. I want the Constitution to mean something again!
1139497
there's too much of this liberal/conservative, right-wing/left-wing, democrat/republican BS that it has caused people to stop thinking about the main point, which is \nPEOPLE'S RIGHTS.\nas soon as that starts then everyone can be happy again. let's start by all becoming libertarians, shall we?\n\ncheers!
393563
WOW \nYou've raised an excellent point.  I'm definitely more obliged to the USA over Illinois.  We've definitely lost sight of the ideals that our founding fathers cherished.  Separation of church and state is another prime example.