Each year the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal compile a list of the countries in the world and rank them on how "Free" they are.
It turns out that the United States is not the most free country in the world.
World Rank
1 Hong Kong 90.0 +0.3
2 Singapore 87.1 -0.2
3 Australia 82.6 +0.4
4 Ireland 82.2 -0.3
5 New Zealand 82.0 +1.2
6 United States 80.7 -0.3
It is a sad day when the United States, the light of freedom, is not ranked number 1.
We are being overrun by policies that seek to strip away the freedom from our hands. This would be a credit to over regulation of free enterprise and governmental intervention.
When does the Revolution start?
politics 
freedom
Thanks to Obamaism
ReplyDeleteYou're an idiot. The more we pander and appease these Wall Street Fascist, the less free we'll be. Obama is no better but Ronald Reagan? I would have loved to see his grey matter replaced by lead.
Delete^^^ Said the real idiot...
DeleteAnd notice, we dropped just as the Democrats took control of the Congress.
ReplyDeleteIronically, our "Socialist" Canadian friends went up, just as John Harper and the Conservatives took over in Ottawa.
Kudos to the Canucks. Shame on US.
Taking bets for how low we're gonna drop under Obama?
ReplyDelete10th, 11th, maybe 19th place?
Well, from the chart we are in the "Free" category. I imagine that we will move into the "mostly free" in the next few years.
ReplyDeletegood lord help us...o wait soon we will not even be able to say that.
ReplyDeleteYup, thanks to Obama we are definitely less free already. What a socialist, commie jerk!
ReplyDeleteI personally wish we could re-elect Bush. I mean look at what great stuff he was working on!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090302/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/terror_memos
"The legal memos written by the Bush administration's Office of Legal Counsel show a government grappling with how to wage war on terrorism in a fast-changing world. The conclusion, reiterated in page after page of documents, was that the president had broad authority to set aside constitutional rights."
The constitution was overrated anyway...
I'm not an Obama supporter but watching you lot talk about freedom is quite sickening considering you would deny basic freedom and rights to gays and others, also your religious belief denies the logic of freedom from the very beginning, I don't think you understand what freedom is!
ReplyDeleteHow did we get to this point in our societal evolution where the scope of our freedom is judged by how much we're supposed to pander to the homosexual fringe? C'mon, folks, don't you understand the concept of "the camel's nose under the tent"? Today we bend over backwards and mainstream the homosexuals, tomorrow we'll be hearing necrophiliacs and zoophiliacs clamor for equal rights and universal acceptance. This kind of cultural degradation was long ago diagnosed by the great late Patrick Moynihan as "defining down deviancy". And he was a liberal Democrat - when being one was not yet tantamount to being a lift-wing nut...
ReplyDeleteSorry folks but neither Hong Kong (part of mainland China today) nor Singapore are free. Yes, they're reasonably clean and polished societies but that's not the definition of free.
ReplyDeleteAnd Australia, NZ, and Ireland are all beautiful places so where's the problem?
Um...
ReplyDeleteOk, these numbers are more than a year old, just so you all know.
This is useful information. However, the report only indexes economic freedom--freedom to labor, to produce and to trade--and does not account for civil freedom. In Singapore, one can be flogged for spitting out chewing gum. Civil liberties are not as robust in Hong Kong or Singapore as they are in America. Basic human freedoms we might take for granted are not as prevalent in other parts of the world.
ReplyDeleteThe reduction in US rating could well be related to their protectionist policies in regard to international trade. Substantially more restrictive than the countries that rate higher. Note the rhetoric which moved from "free trade" to "fair trade" under Bush.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that we are talking about this- we need honest debate on what exactly is happening to our country. But I just wanted to make sure that all of you are actually trying to stop the socialism of our nation. Are you calling your congressman? Are you making appointments with them at your local office and expressing your displeasure? If you are- awesome. If you are not-- then get to work. We can change things or at least slow them down if we battle hard enough!
ReplyDeletehow did hong kong add to number 1 on the list?? =S
ReplyDeleteAt the rate the US is heading, it won't be long before it is obvious we are not number one. We have gone from the government working for the people to the people working for the government. Take all these tax breaks you get for being married, insulating your house, going green, etc. Taxes have gone from raising revenue to being a tool for behavior control. The government is basically "paying" you your own money back if you do something they like. So now one person making the same amount of money as the next person will pay less taxes if they are married, insulate their house, buy an economic car, etc all for the same freedoms the government still allows us to have.
ReplyDeleteIn a truly free society, we wouldn't need a license to fish, hunt, or get married. A license implies that an act is illegal unless permission (license) is granted. It is now illegal to hunt for your own food unless we have permission. Is this really that free?
The idea that the United States has at any point in the last 20 years been the most free country in the world is laughable.
ReplyDeleteI'm an American who has been living in Amsterdam for the last four years and the Netherlands has what I would consider true freedom.
In America, there are serious restrictions in terms of what can be shown on television, billboards and heard on the radio etc. There is major censorship of cursing as well as nakedness and sexuality in the American media. Freedom of speech in the press and freedom of expression in the arts pales in comparison to the Netherlands. For example, insinuating that the a member of congress was a child molester on national television in the daytime would almost certainly have serious consequences in the United States whereas it would be considered typical political satire over here.
Gay rights are limited, prostitution is outlawed and there are a ton of regulations regarding gambling. The drinking age is 21. The age of consent is 18 in a dozen states (including California, Florida, Virginia and Arizona). The smoking age is 19 in a number of places (like New Jersey). Police powers in America are huge compared to the Netherlands. You can be stopped and searched for almost anything, have your property confiscated, have your house raided and be handcuffed and tased for little or no reason. Cannabis is completely illegal in the US apart from for medical use, as are magic mushrooms and ketamine. The punishments for producing, possessing, dealing and consuming substances like MDMA are frankly ridiculous in America. Prisoners, former criminals and sexual "deviants" are treated like shit at home. Convicted felons are denied the right to vote in some states. People are frequently detained and tortured at Gitmo without trial. Some of the invocations in the Patriot Act are ridiculous.
The only places in the developed world that have less civil liberties than the US are Australia (NO freedom in the media)and Hong Kong. Somehow both of these countries also made the "most free" list. I'm guessing that the ranking is heavily weighted towards nations with high economic freedom (low taxes, few barriers to market entry etc.) of which the United States is certainly one of the best.
Hey wait! This blog comment ranks the US at #6 80, while the actual source ranks it #8 - 78.0; -2.7 from the last ranking.
ReplyDeleteTo: Anonymous, February 7, 2010 2:18 PM
ReplyDeleteSounds like you've been away from the US for more like 40 years.
To: Roger F. Gay, February 7, 2010 11:21 PM
ReplyDeleteHere in the Netherlands I get six weeks paid vacation per year. We also have a shorter working week. Should I choose to have a child, my wife would get close to double the maternity leave that she would expect in the US.
I've heard plenty of stories about children who get thrown out of school simply for refusing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
We have the highest incarceration rate in the developed world. According to "Reporters Without Borders" we have the same level of press freedom as Taiwan. We rank 36th out of 173 nations.
How can you argue that the US is anywhere near the most free country in the world when Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" at the Super Bowl causes national uproar and leads to a huge fine for CBS.
A small but vocal minority pretty much decide indecency laws in America and everyone else has to just accept it. The "safe harbor" is stupid when you think about it, the FCC excerpts far more power on our broadcasting than it should.
Exposed breasts are a no-no on terrestrial television before 10pm. There was an episode of NYPD Blue a few years ago which showed a nude woman (shock-horror) getting out of the shower. There was nothing sexual about it, it was just a female body without clothes on. The FCC demanded more than a million dollars in fines. Who gives them this right? Are we really such a nation of prudes? What about all this proposed legislation to limit network neutrality in the US. There is no equivalent discussion in the Netherlands, it is taken as a consumer right.
I'm guessing most of the people claiming that America is or recently has been the most free country in the world have never been outside the United States.
Obama and his corrupt cronies are destroying this country as we speak. Vote them OUT!!!! He is a communist at heart. All of his corrupt friends are running the show. We must stand together and get rid of these evil drones.
ReplyDeleteWow, Anonymous. Just wow. What if my definition of freedom, dare I say it, includes (gasp) family values? Or, God help me now, freedom of religion? What if freedom to me is a country where people aren't cranked out on weed and coke sleeping it off from their latest orgy? What if freedom to me is that I do put in a decent week of work and I don't take excessive time off? What if doing a good job makes me feel good about myself? What happens if I value things like decency and honesty; or liberty or personal accountability, and basic human rights? What if freedom to me is where the government doesn't regulate every aspect of my life? How about I value a society that doesn't promote a class of people who suck taxpayer money because they think they are "entitled" to it? What if I wanted my government to have a %15 flat tax and that's it?
ReplyDeleteWhy is your version of freedom more worthy than mine? Why do I have to suffer so you can see naked boobies on TV? What if I want to teach my children an entirely different set a values that you would teach your own children?
If you version of freedom consists of every gross liberal ideal known to mankind, where every perversion is not only tolerated but glorified, where you seem to have no care about the long term ramifications of your actions, where there appears to be no guiding moral principles, ...you know, you're welcome to it. Just don't go forcing it down my throat.
I don't understand why seeing naked boobs on tv should make you suffer. Human anatomy in natural and as a fellow human I can assure you it is perfectly safe and won't corrupt your children.
ReplyDeleteObviously Mr. Booby-Guy doesn't have any children and has no idea how impressionable children are. Do you seriously think if boobs were okay on national tv that it would be limited to so called "innocent" scenes such as a woman exiting a shower. More likely it would quickly devolve into all out porn. Just what I want my children subjected to. Heck, it is dang near impossible to completely shelter them from the lewdness that is already allowed on tv, billboards, magazines, etc... I shudder to think what a restriction free society would present. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness... I see no path to happiness in that kind of society.
ReplyDeleteObama has nothing to do with it... in fact many democratic policies allow more freedom (e.g. abortion). Republicans tend to pass laws that limit our social freedoms based on their religious agenda. However, I do agree that democrats pass laws that limit free enterprise.
ReplyDeleteIf you look at the list... New Zealand, Ireland, etc... those countries have MUCH more liberal politicians than we will ever have. It's a shame that most people on this comment list think republicans can restore freedom.
Freedom is having a choice... Its being able to CHOOSE how you raise your kids, or what you see on tv.. It's choosing your own religion, sexual preference, or weather or not to use drugs or drink alcohol... Freedom does not always mean better... Should we be Free to kill people? no. Should we be allowed to get wasted drunk and drive as fast as we want?... no.. We have laws to protect us from each other.. However, if left un checked politicians and savy corporations find ways to make laws that dont serve the purpose of protecting, however serve the purpose of making money or serving a single opinion... example.. its illegal to buy beer on sunday in some states... that does not protect anyone.. it serves a religious purpose.. If you are religous and shouldnt drink beer on sunday, then DONT.. the state shouldnt have to stop you.. thats an example of lawmakers and their voters enforcing their religious beliefs via law... how about marriage?? there are 2 points of reason with being legally married.. the state views you as a household instead of 2 individuals.. (tax purposes, and documentation incase of a separation and valubles are to be split) then there is the religious marriage.. man and woman together in front of GOD.. When a state has laws against gay marriage, they are submitting to religious beliefs.. again taking away the freedom of religion.. Sometimes laws are made and disguised to like something for our own good, but really are only intended to make money.. like seat belt laws, or helmet laws.. "they are for our own protection" well that should be my right.. to choose the risk or not.. it only effects me, and im not endangering others.. Its just a law that collects revenue for the state or county.. why are punishments always financial?? get caught speeding and "Pay" the ticket.. NEVER community service or something else.. its all about money. Freedom truly is to be able to do,say,think,feel,want,ingest, believe, anything, with no punishment or harm brought on you. Laws should ONLY protect us. And our country's sole responsiblity should be to make our lives the best most fun experience possible. PERIOD. "for the people" if you dont want nudity on tv. Change the channel.. If your god doesnt want you to marry your same sex, DONT. if you dont want your kids smoking weed, dont let them. The only way YOU will ever be free, is to let your neighbor ALSO be free. As soon as we stop or limit a lifestyle choice we become a tyrant! No matter how holy or noble or moral we "think" it is..
ReplyDeleteJR Guenther
My opinion on politics..
ReplyDeleteIf there was a huge meteor heading toward earth and it was certain doom, what would we do?? All the smart people at nasa, and all kinds of science organizations all over would get together and brainstorm a solution.they would use science, and statistics, and math and come up with the best possible solution.. yet we cant solve our health care problem.We cant solve our economic crisis..when the economy crashed, both obama and mccain "postponed" their campains to go "help" solve the problem.. To me THAT is the problem.. Its all for show. Neither of those guys have the correct experience to solve any kind of economic situation. And no leader should know how to do everything. we cant expect that.. The problem is that our country cant be realistic with itself and understand that 1 guy or woman will never be the "hero" in a government that is so complicated.. We find it so easy to blame bush, or blame obama for everything, when really all of us know the problem is much much deeper. the people that hate obama dont want to support people who are trying to take advantage and live off the gov. people that hate bush are tired of old rich people having all the power and using to serve themselves..both are valid..we however dont do anything to fix it.we just shift the power back and forth between dem. and rep. year after year.. term after term.. never changes.If our gov. like NASA had super qualified, specifically educated people as a think tank coming up with realistic solutions, we could choose to use those solutions for our benefit.. but what do we have instead..politicians..if you want to be a lawyer..you need to graduate from a school.law school specifically..and then pass the bar..doctor? need med school and then obtain a liscense. teacher, dentist, scientist,engineer, accountant, architect, and almost any other job requires some level of specific education. But not the job of running our country, or making laws..Its not a manner of who got the best test score, or who is the smartest. Nope.. its who is most popular.. or who spent the most money to slander their opponent.
continued....
My state has problems.. wouldnt it be great if when i was voting for our next senator i could review their politicians test scores.. so i could choose the one thats most educated in the field that my state needs help in the most..If you had a heart attack, you would want the best most educated heart doctor to fix you right? not just the guy wearing the white coat that was popular amongst a crowd..Obamas campaign was like 75 million dollars or something i heard.wow..brings me to my next point..conflict of interests..dick cheney and haliburton..we allow a guy that ownes a company which profits if we go to war help decide if we go to war..seriously...bush owned stock in a company that made tanks..with so much money to be made how can we expect people to get into politics for any reason but money.Obama was financed by all kinds of people with big opinions..if we make it so that politicians can not make money on the side, and set a standard for specific education to the job, with public access to transcripts and test scores, i think our country would change over night..no more congressman making laws that benefit a corporation just because that same corporation financed their campaign.policy and law should be made to our benefit.. my benefit.your benefit.i dont care what an old white haired tan guy senator that flew planes in the military thinks about our lack of oil, and rising oil prices..i care what a team of global economists think..I just think we should be able to hold our lawmakers to the same standard as we hold our lawyers, and doctors, and geologists, and architects, and almost everyone else.. We are the most powerful and influencial country in the world and we have no standard for who runs it.. meanwhile we just go back and forth pretending that our favorite party has the right idea... so stupid.. dont blame bush... dont blame obama.. blame the fact that you dont care enough to look past the smoke screen, and deeper into the problem.. the democrats are taking away our rights regulating everythig to death, and the republican are letting big corporations rape us and get away with murder cuz they have money.. eventually we'll have nothing. I truly believe the answer is to take away conflict of interests, and demand a level of standards within congress....
ReplyDeleteJR Guenther
Did Obama create the Department of Homeland Security? No. Did Obama push for the US PATRIOT Act? No. Did Obama push the REAL ID Act? No.
ReplyDeleteIn this country, we call the people who push these ideas "neo-conservatives." In the rest of the world they're called "neo-liberals." These are the folks who are tickled pink to spend trillions of dollars of our money on foreign adventures. "Real" conservatives would never have done that. "Real" conservatives would support the freedoms of individuals.
Neo-conservatives are selling the American people down the river into the arms of their corporate cronies. In the 1930s, this was called "fascism." Today, it's called "Patriotism."
Welcome to the United Police States of America. All thanks to the 21st century Republican Party.
The United States was never a free country. Laws that prohibit consenting behaviors between adults are unconstitutional. Prohibition of drugs, prostitution and limitations on gambling are in direct conflict with the bill of rights. F&%k the United States and it's corrupt and evil leaders that are ruled only by their greed and lust for domination over others. The sooner this farce of a democracy comes to an end the better! Secession that's the answer.
ReplyDeleteUS is number one per capita in the number of mentally ill and the number of people incarcerated yet trails behind both in economic freedoms and civil liberties. To hell with Obama, Bush and all of the other TRAITORS. Good riddence USA.
Man Americans are stupid. We have had horrible leadership for decades and 1 black guy gets elected and we blame 50 years on him. This country has turned into a fearful country which makes us a weaker country that's scary. Fact of the matter is no country is free if it elects others to control them. Anarchy is the only real freedom.
ReplyDeleteJust to let everyone know, the United States has never been #1 in these rankings. The U.S. was 8th, 7th, 6th, and 5th under Bush, so it may be somewhat misguided to say that Obama is taking away all of our freedoms. Personally, I don't want the United States to be #1. As it was stated before, too much freedom may compromise morality. I'm all for personal liberty, but not when it jeopardizes the functional operations of a humane society.
ReplyDelete"New Ranking Suggests U.S. Not the Most Free Country"
ReplyDelete"New Ranking Suggests U.S. Not the Most Free Country"
Oh dear, the arrogance... It hurts!
The US has never been the most free country in the world. When it comes to political freedoms, civil rights, freedom of speech, freedom of the press etc. the US has NEVER even ranked in top 10, and most of the time outs outside of top 20. And coupled with its relatively low rankings in 'least corrupt nations' as well, referring to it as "the land of the free" is quite pathetic, and also extremely arrogant. The only freedom where it's ranked in the top 10, is economic freedoms, where it's ranked #9, behind scary socialist countries such as Denmark and Canada.
Second quote; "New Ranking Suggests U.S. Not the Most Free Country" =
ReplyDelete"It turns out that the United States is not the most free country in the world." (copy-paste error)
Hong Kong, was a separate colony of Britain, and in recent years became a separate administrative region a part of China, not a nation, and ranks 6.5 on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 being the least freedom. Singapore is a nation with only partial freedom, ranking 4.5 on a scale of 7. Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and United States rank 1 on a scale of 7, with 1 being the nations of most freedom.
ReplyDeleteAmerica is not free any more and the congress and up is destroying America. Our rights are being taken away daily.
ReplyDeleteall you people are soo simple minded for trying to blame one side. its not democrats or republicans, its the entire government thats taking away our freedoms. They are slowly taking away our rights and wether we like it or not there isnt much we can do about it. If you really want to know about whats going on then get your head out of your ass and open your mind, not with drugs but with philosophy and understanding and become an intellectual. Seeing breasts does not in anyway suggest sexuality because its a part of natural human anatomy, and only in america is it considered wrong. Most european countries saw nothing wrong with the indecent because to them it is only a body part that every human has. Free Your Mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIts not democrats or republicans, it's all of them. Look at the recent acts that have been passed (the NDAA) and those that will soon be passed (SOPA and PIPA) stripping us of our freedoms and BOTH sides are voting for these because they either don't care or don't understand how they work.
ReplyDelete