What are your views

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  1. American View profile image61
    American Viewposted 13 years ago

    Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

    Ronald Reagan

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    1. profile image0
      Texasbetaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Rhetoric really. It is using a catchphrase to portray an idea which is usually counter to what the actual statement was about. A rouse

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    2. Evan G Rogers profile image60
      Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Reagan took a crap all over freedom. He just knew what the sheep wanted to hear and spewed it.

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      1. dutchman1951 profile image61
        dutchman1951posted 13 years agoin reply to this

        totaly agree with Evan. He was an opertunist, learned the tricks of speach to survive as a bit actor in California. He was not what he was hyped up to be.

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        1. American View profile image61
          American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          And Obamas not. He was Kenyan, no Hawian, no Irish, no British. The only thing missing from his speach in Puerto Rico was claiming to be Puerto Rican. At least Reagan has accomplishments he can hang his hat on. You cannot say that about Obama, oh yea, he accomplished raising taxes, burdening us with a disaster called Obamacare.

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          1. American View profile image61
            American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this
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          2. American View profile image61
            American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Oh remember a few more, sets the record for giving the most speaches by a President, and that record grows everyday since he gives at least on per day. Break the record of spening the least amout of time in the Whitehouse, passing former holder Bush. Bush still hold the record for most vacation days away from the Whitehouse. Has the record of giving the most interviews, several per day. Holds the record for having the most convicts at the Easter celebration at the whitehouse. Actually he has the distinction of being the only President to do so. And by the way, how did they get in? What ever happened to security clearence? I need to stop, I could write a book

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          3. Quilligrapher profile image70
            Quilligrapherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Hi Mr. American View. Welcome to Hubpages. I am looking forward to reading more of your hubs. May I correct a couple of errors in your statements above?
            President Obama is an American citizen born in Hawaii to an American mother and a Kenyan father. Both his American citizenship and his Kenyan citizenship were automatic at birth in accordance with US and Kenyan law. 

            Also, President Obama did not raise Federal Income Taxes as you stated. The current tax rates, in effect for 8 years, became law under the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act in 2003.  A bipartisan bill signed by President Obama in December 2010 avoided a tax increase by extending the 2003 rates for all Americans for two years. The bill also extended unemployment benefits for 13 months and included a one-year Social Security tax cut, among other measures.
            http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162- … z1PVAKmTIb
            Thanks for your interesting thread.

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            1. American View profile image61
              American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              Hi Quill thanks for responding I also appreciate that you would like to read my hubs
              I was not questioning whether Obama was a citizen or not. To me it does not matter he is already President and all that did was waste alot of time and media air space. I was refering to the fract that almost every country he has visited he gives a speach saying he has roots in that country and how proud of it he is. I was just a poke at Him
              I did read the cbsnews article. It was about the Obama extending the Bush tax cuts. That does not mean he did not raise taxes. And I bet you can guess why he only exteded them for 2 years. Can you say campain? He figures he can abolish them after he gets re elected.  Chck this out, or you can go to the Heritage Foundation they list all the tax increases small and large that Obama has made.
              I look forward to reading youm hubs and any future responses you have for me

              http://hubpages.com/hub/New-Taxes-Coming

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          4. Stump Parrish profile image59
            Stump Parrishposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            American, It is getting tiring reading that Obama has accomplished nothing and I am aware that posting this link to a list of 244 accomplishments will be disregarded by those on the right. Nothing proves the right, right more than proof to the contrary. Here's more proof for those who call themselves the right but are anything but... to ignore

            http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2010 … ts-part-4/

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            1. American View profile image61
              American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              Stump, I started to readthe blog site you sent me to. Some of it is correct some is not even close. Obama did lift the blackout on viewing of military coffins coming home. I was and still am totally against it. Those veterans gave there life for this country and should be honored in peace with their family, not gawked at on TV. But Obama had a reason for doing it. He wanted Americans to see those coffins and hope to spark outrage to bring our troops home and to never send them into combat again. He found out that as President, sometimes we have to go to combat. True no one wants it, but it is sometime needed. Getting the expenses cover for the families to meet the coffins of the returning soldiers was a notion started during the Bush admin but was opposed. I finally passed when Obama was President, but he had nothing to do with it except to sign the bill. If you want to prove to me he actually accomplished something of value, show me a CBo report or some other Gov report. Do not show me a blog that was nothing but a copy of someone elses blog. Yhey are always someones opinion, generaly not factual

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            2. lovemychris profile image80
              lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              Agree completely.

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            3. Nathanville profile image91
              Nathanvilleposted 10 months agoin reply to this

              I am just an observer of this forum as it seems to be focusing on America; however, this post caught my attention. 

              I was disappointed to find out that your link is to a website that no longer exists.  However, the perception I got from across the pond is that Obama did accomplish a lot, including his attempt to introduce Obamacare which, although not a patch on the NHS (National Health Service) in the UK, was at least a step in the right direction.

              In Britain, Obama is the most popular foreign politician, with 66% popularity and dislike at just 12%; compared to Trump at 11th place, with just 18% popularity and 74% dislike – See link below:-

              https://yougov.co.uk/ratings/politics/p … icians/all

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              1. Ken Burgess profile image70
                Ken Burgessposted 10 months agoin reply to this

                Personally, I prefer a President that is not liked by the UK, as I am not want to have our country become more like the UK, nor am I interested in their foreign policy interests.

                The ACA (obamacare) is neither affordable nor an improvement for the vast majority of Americans, it was mostly an allowance to Big Pharma and the Medical Industry to feed off of the government and continue to charge Americans an unholy amount for their drugs,

                The political parties have shifted immensely in America, and some people have failed to catch onto these changes.

                Democrats are the party of the Neocons, Elites, Corporatists, Globalists and Socialists (Identity Politics)... they have abandoned the Blue Collar folk, and the American citizens in general.

                Republicans, whether their donors and old idealogues wanted it or not, have become the party of Blue Collar folk, Patriotic individuals, people not interested in supporting endless wars, not interested in open borders or Globalism at the expense of American exceptionalism, etc. ... in general old school, hard working, all I need is an opportunity Americans.  This is almost exclusively because of Trump, and why so much of the establishment is determined to destroy him.

                Something that was discussed decently enough in this clip from the 23 minute mark:
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4k_4G0WEUU

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                1. wilderness profile image96
                  wildernessposted 10 months agoin reply to this

                  Pretty close to spot on, as I see it.  I would add, though, that one of Trump's few failures (mistakes, evils, whatever you wish to call them) was the emphasis on religion in politics.  The far right has jumped on this and will, if they are allowed to, reinsert religion into our politics to the point that we really are the Christian nation they claim and envision.

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                2. Nathanville profile image91
                  Nathanvilleposted 10 months agoin reply to this

                  Yep, I would be surprised if you thought otherwise; we live in different social and cultural societies with different politics – but the important thing is that we each are relatively happy with the political and social systems we have in our own countries.  I watched your video link from the 23 minute mark, as suggested, and I’m not surprised by the comments made.

                  Yep, I know that Obamacare is nothing like the NHS, and I don’t see how it ever could be; for example, the NHS is the opposite of how you describe Obamacare allowing the “Big Pharma and the Medical Industry to feed off of the government” e.g. the NHS are prohibited from negotiating with the ‘Big Pharma’s for drugs; that’s done by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) (and ‘independent’ Government Department); and NICE with a large customer base of over 67 million UK residence is in a strong negotiating position, and is a tough negotiator – So NICE has a reputation of negotiation generous discounts from the ‘Big Pharma’s’, on behalf of the NHS.

                  Yep, American politics (which I find baffling) does seem to be in turmoil at the moment – In the UK, after 13 years of Conservative Rule, the latest opinion polls are still indicating a major defeat the Conservatives in next year’s General Election.  The most recent opinion polls, taken 16th November (1 week ago) for voting intentions in the pending General Election in the UK is as follows:-

                  •    Labour = 44%
                  •    Conservatives = 21%
                  •    Liberal Democrats = 10%
                  •    Greens = 8%

                  The nearest simplistic political comparison I can make is politically:-

                  •    The UK Conservatives are akin the USA Republicans,
                  •    The UK Liberal Democrats are akin to the USA Democrats.
                  •    The Labour Party more akin to Bernard Sanders,
                  •    The Green Party is politically to the left of Labour.

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                  1. Ken Burgess profile image70
                    Ken Burgessposted 10 months agoin reply to this

                    I recognize that the UK and US governmental systems are different, one of the most significant differences, and of benefit to the people of the UK, is that it is not a two party system (that in America has really become a one Uniparty system, the differences are more a facade than a reality).

                    Because of our very corrupt establishment, ANY move America makes to become more socialist (more caring of its citizens) does not work like it does in the UK... it does not benefit the people, it benefits the corporations and the 1% at the expense of the rest of us... the ACA (obamacare) is an excellent example of this, yes there were changes that are a benefit to a few, but at great expense to the rest, and who really profited from it were the Insurance, Pharma, and Medical industries.

                    America is vastly different politically/governmentally, the UK it seems, based on years of reading your posts, has taken away some freedoms from its citizens that Americans take for granted, but in return it has given them a wealth of benefits and seems to do a far better job at equitable providing of services to them.

                    America diverged from that path 30+ years ago, coinciding with the collapse of the USSR, it became the 'global leader' it became the government of International Corporations, the IMF, WB, UN, WHO, etc. it gave corporations all the rights and powers of citizens while they maintained the protections of corporations and trusts.  America has a Corporatocracy (with financial institutions like BlackRock and a few powerful trillionaires thrown in the mix, the FedRes, etc.)... without any real benefits or protections in the system for the citizens seen in the UK... our politics, our voting, does not give us representation anymore and hasn't for decades, the one exception to this rule was Trump.

                    Trump had enough money of his own, and the support of a few other billionaires, that he was able to fund his own campaign, use what was then the matching campaign finance laws, the then openness of Social Media and the MSM to get his message out and get himself elected.

                    By 2020 Social Media shadow banned his supporters and Trump's campaign efforts across all platforms, while the entirety of the MSM (to include Fox) did everything to convince the populace of just how terrible he was (they still do this to excess today).

                    The FBI, CIA, NSA, DOJ, worked in conjunction with all the primary Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube) platforms... it was, and still is, quite an impressive effort by an unelected establishment, that works behind the scenes, trying to maintain the facade that we have a Democracy and the elected politicians are the ones in control.

                    There is a growing disparity in the political extremes today because on the one side... you have your indoctrinated zealots that have fully bought into the Social Justice, Identity Politics, Reparations for crimes of generations long ago "Progressives"  ... and you have your other side that sees a corrupt government that is becoming more tyrannical, unresponsive to their wants and needs, and is in need of a complete overhaul as it is broken to the point of being beyond functional servitude to the people.

                    The one side fully supports the system because it believes that the oppression it is bringing down upon its citizens is targeting just the oppressors and victimizers (which in America today are white straight males primarily, white people collectively).

                    The other side, which by-and-large sees this, and sees how the government is taking things from it without giving any of the benefits being provided to those in the UK, for example... sees the government funding wars it wants no part of... sees the government allowing in millions of migrants and spreading them across the nation, a nation where  they see city streets filled with homeless, in the most 'Democrat' heavy states... and they aren't exactly embracing what they are seeing.

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                3. Nathanville profile image91
                  Nathanvilleposted 10 months agoin reply to this

                  With reference to my previous post above, about NICE:-

                  See link below for an example of where NICE negotiated, on behalf of the NHS, the most expensive drug in the world, full cost £1.79 million ($2.25 million) for one-off treatment; the amount negotiated is confidential, but according to the NHS it has been obtained at a substantial discount.

                  https://www.theguardian.com/society/202 … -zolgensma

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              2. Castlepaloma profile image75
                Castlepalomaposted 10 months agoin reply to this

                I give world leader 2%, since some where in there is a human.

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          5. Evan G Rogers profile image60
            Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Helping destroy freedom isn't really an accomplishment that one SHOULD hang their hats on...

            ... but I suppose that a hat can be hung on it. Unfortunately, so can the necks of the free.

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            1. American View profile image61
              American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one Evan. Regan was a strong supporter of freedom here and abroad. Why were the hostages released when Reagan was being sworn in? Because they knew Regan was going to come get our citizens.
              During his Presidency, Reagan pursued policies that reflected his personal belief in individual freedom, brought changes domestically, both to the U.S. economy and expanded military, and contributed to the end of the Cold War.  Termed the Reagan Revolution, his presidency would reinvigorate American morale and reduce the people's reliance upon government. As president, Reagan kept a series of diaries in which he commented on daily occurrences of his presidency and his views on the issues of the day. The diaries were published in May 2007 in the bestselling book, The Reagan Diaries
              During Jimmy Carter's last year in office (1980), inflation averaged 12.5%, compared to 4.4% during Reagan's last year in office (1988). Over those eight years, the unemployment rate declined from 9.7% to 5.5%.
              During Reagan's presidency, federal income tax rates were lowered significantly with the signing of the bipartisan Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981
              ]Then, in 1982 the Job Training Partnership Act of 1982 was signed into law, initiating one of the nation's first public/private partnerships and a major part of the president's job creation program
              The net effect of all Reagan-era tax bills, raising or cutting, was a 1% decrease in government revenues when compared to Treasury Department revenue estimates from the Administration's first post-enactment January budgets. However, federal Income Tax receipts increased from 1980 to 1989, rising from $308.7Bn to $549.0Bn
              Reagan ended the price controls on domestic oil which had contributed to energy crises in the early 1970s. The price of oil subsequently dropped, and the 1980s did not see the fuel shortages that the 1970s had.
              Reagan also fulfilled a 1980 campaign promise to repeal the Windfall profit tax in 1988, which had previously increased dependence on foreign oil.
              During Reagan's presidency a program was initiated within the US intelligence community to ensure America's economic strength. The program, Project Socrates, developed and demonstrated the means required for the US to generate and lead the next evolutionary leap in technology acquisition and utilization for a competitive advantage—automated innovation.
              Reagan escalated the Cold War, accelerating a reversal from the policy of détente which began in 1979 following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.[150] Reagan ordered a massive buildup of the United States Armed Forces and implemented new policies towards the Soviet Union: reviving the B-1 bomber program that had been canceled by the Carter administration, and producing the MX "Peacekeeper" missile.
              After Soviet fighters downed Korean Air Lines Flight 007 near Moneron Island on September 1, 1983, carrying 269 people including U.S. congressman from Georgia Larry McDonald, Reagan labeled the act a "massacre" and declared that the Soviets had turned "against the world and the moral precepts which guide human relations among people everywhere". The Reagan administration responded to the incident by suspending all Soviet passenger air service to the United States, and dropped several agreements being negotiated with the Soviets, wounding them financially.] As result of the shootdown, and the cause of KAL 007's going astray thought to be indequacies related to its navigational system, Reagan announced on September 16, 1983 that the Global Positioning System (GPS) would be made available for civilian use, free of charge, once completed in order to avert similar navigational errors in future[
              Regan won a record 525 electoral votes in 1984. Even a very popular Obama could not do that
              Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986. The act made it illegal to knowingly hire or recruit illegal immigrants, required employers to attest to their employees' immigration status, and granted amnesty to approximately 3 million illegal immigrants who entered the United States prior to January 1, 1982, and had lived in the country continuously.
              Reagan recognized the change in the direction of the Soviet leadership with Mikhail Gorbachev, and shifted to diplomacy, with a view to encourage the Soviet leader to pursue substantial arms agreements
              Reagan signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty at the White House, which eliminated an entire class of nuclear weapons
              The Berlin Wall was torn down beginning in 1989 and two years later the Soviet Union collapsed.
              Yea, I guess it was not much for Regan to hang his hat on. He really ruined freedom, not

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          6. lovemychris profile image80
            lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I knew this was going to come out!
            No offense, but I had the feeling you were being "nice" to fool people.
            You are a tea-bagging extremist pretending to be a moderate person. In my opinion, and no offense meant.

            I just think you came along after a few had been gone, and are trying a different tact.

            But it's the same Obama hate.

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      2. TMMason profile image60
        TMMasonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        Shall I call him it, Evan? Regan was a Pr... nah I won't say it.

        I will simply say the Progressives and Liberal/Democrat/Socialists have been playing both sides of the field, and have penned both side of the script also, for the last century. I will leave it at that.

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        1. Evan G Rogers profile image60
          Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          No disagreement there!

          There's crap on both sides of the fence.

          ... The grass is always browner?

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    3. Dennis AuBuchon profile image60
      Dennis AuBuchonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      We have great freedom in this country much of which is defined in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution.  The freedoms we have today and will continue to have tomorrow will depend on our willingness to defend them.
      Each generation has stepped up to the plate throughout history to defend the freedoms we have today. 

      The need to defend the freedoms we have do not just come from events in other parts of the world but there are times when they must be defended in our own country through court battles on various issues and rights.

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      1. John Holden profile image60
        John Holdenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        It seems to me that the amount of freedom that you have depends on whether you're a WASP or not.
        Pretty good if you are, pretty tough if you aren't.

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        1. Quilligrapher profile image70
          Quilligrapherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Is it possible your perception of freedom in America is distorted somewhat by distance? I have lived on the West Side of the pond my whole life and I find your appraisal far from accurate.  What’s more, I’m not a WASP.

          Some Americans may seem extreme in their admiration for our Constitution and the Bill of Rights because these documents represent the noblest experiment in bottom to top governance ever attempted by civilized men. As a country, we had to struggle to install these principles and it is proving to be a difficult challenge to hold on to them.

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          1. recommend1 profile image60
            recommend1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

            "noblest experiment . . . ever attempted by civilized men"

            You are having a laugh mate !   It was a document written up to give 'freedom' to a small percentage of the population who were already 'free' - the rest were slaves and bonded people and were not included as they were still goods and chattels.

            and the civilized men were slave owners, and went on to decimate any remaining native population that their rich daddies had missed.

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            1. Quilligrapher profile image70
              Quilligrapherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              Hi there Recommend1,
              I do not confuse the events in history, you mention, with the principles contained in the Constitutions and the Bill of Rights. Nor do I agree with the characterization that all of the drafters were slave owners, which is not the case.  The documents were designed to provide a unifying consensus upon which a new country could be founded. There was considerable debate and disagreement among the colonies.  Protecting the institution of slavery, which was already rooted in the agricultural economy of the South, was one of the compromises that lead to forming the union. But the principles of freedom also found in these documents ultimately led to the elimination of slavery. The fact that it took more than 200 years is not something to celebrate while the fact that it did happen is.

              The Cherokee nation argued its claim of sovereignty before the US Supreme Court (Worchester v. Georgia, 1832) and won. President Jackson's decision not to enforce the court's ruling is a national disgrace that we, as Americans, should never forget.

              Your criticism of the actions of men who did not respect the ideals of the Constitution does not detract one iota from the merits of those principles because they stand above and separate from the acts of government officials. You are free to make light of my respect for the Bill of Rights if you choose to.  In fact, the Constitution you ridicule protects your right to do so. These documents do indeed represent the noblest experiment in bottom to top governance ever attempted by civilized men.

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              1. TMMason profile image60
                TMMasonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                Very well spoken and so full of the truth, I applaud you, sir. Ecellent!

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              2. Ken Burgess profile image70
                Ken Burgessposted 10 months agoin reply to this

                Does anyone wonder why we are where we are today?

                The first most likely resembles the typical indoctrinated mindset of young 'intellectuals' of today.

                The latter resembles the wisdom and comprehension that is fast disappearing from our nation, as those who have it, grow too old to keep the fight alive.

                The TikTok generation will never have that depth of reflection or understanding.

                Love reading some of these old threads, they are like time capsules, this one from a dozen years ago.  I guess we can tell whose beliefs/politics is running the country today.

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            2. American View profile image61
              American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              I totally agree Quill

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          2. John Holden profile image60
            John Holdenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Hm, is it possible that distance lends clarity?
            You may not be a WASP but your avatar indicates that you are a white man.
            Freedom is not anything to do with admiration for a constitution or a bill of rights, in fact that could be described as a lack of freedom!
            And where is the freedom in constant struggle?

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            1. Quilligrapher profile image70
              Quilligrapherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

              How are you today, John?
              Your conclusion based on my avatar is quite astute but it does nothing to support your notion that the amount of freedom we enjoy in the US “depends on whether you're a WASP or not.” Perhaps you think my being white makes me ¼-WASP and, therefore, eligible for one-quarter of the freedoms enjoyed by other Americans that qualify as Anglo, Saxon and Protestant.  I’m confused. Please help me out here, John. If there is clarity in your statements then it eludes me. I think you are saying freedom has nothing to do with admiration for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. If so, then we agree 100%. I should really use the word liberty rather than freedom. You must also explain: “in fact that could be described as a lack of freedom!” I don’t understand your point here.Good question, John.  I said “As a country, we had to struggle to install these principles and it is proving to be a difficult challenge to hold on to them.” From all the examples of this country’s struggles to retain our liberty, few are more blatant than the USA PATRIOT Act enacted after the attacks on 9/11.  With the stroke of a pen, President Bush signed away every citizen’s constitutionally guaranteed right to “habeas corpus.” The Act granted law enforcement agencies unprecedented authority to search telephone, e-mail, medical, financial, and other records. It completely eliminated restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States.  The Secretary of State became empowered to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities. Law enforcement and immigration authorities had new and broad discretion to detain and deport immigrants only suspected of terrorism-related acts. The legislation also altered the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism thus enlarging the number of activities to which the USA PATRIOT Act’s expanded law enforcement powers could be applied. Surely, it will be a struggle for us to regain many of the liberties flushed away by this one bill.

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        2. lovemychris profile image80
          lovemychrisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          That is also very true.

          How free are you if you are starving to death and can't pay your heating bill?
          How free are you when your kids go to school dodging bullets?

          In USA.....Money=Freedom.

          Our ideals are grand....just not too many are lived up to.

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    4. profile image0
      BRIAN SLATERposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Freedom is a state of mind and wasn't invented by Ronald Reagan lol bet he wish he could have thought of that one while riding off into the sunset.

      Try reading John Neulinger's book The psychology of Leisure.

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  2. Robert Kernodle profile image81
    Robert Kernodleposted 13 years ago

    Freedom is relative.  I appreciate the relative freedom in being a citizen of the USA.

    There are all sorts of other freedoms too that have little to do with politics:

    * freedom from disease
    * freedom from ignorance
    * freedom from ridicule
    * freedom from racial hatred

    Even in a country that values a political definition of freedom, there are still barriers to practicing other definitions of freedom that democracy cannot assure.

    Many freedoms depend on intelligence and basic human respect, which many people in American society have forgotten.  The level of dedication to job excellence and to politeness in shared public spaces, for example, seems pathologically low today.

    Selfish, inconsiderate people still throw their trash on park grounds and greenways where other people go to try to get away from the world's trash.  It is as though the exertion of carrying a full beer can INTO a public park and executing the required number of arm curls to drink the beer somehow weakens a person to the point that he/she cannot muster the strength to carry the empty beer can OUT of a public park.  People who litter, thus, are the real "trash".

    RGK

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    1. American View profile image61
      American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      RGK

      You hit it on the head. Thats what I was thinking when I posted this. I knew some people were going to think this was about war or political dominence. But it is about ALL the freedoms that we need to achieve. Anhyone can vote, but are they free?
      freedom from drugs
      can anyone add to this list?

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      1. dutchman1951 profile image61
        dutchman1951posted 13 years agoin reply to this

        freedom to toil and endevor with out Goverment forcefiting when where and how.
        Freedom to choose my own life style, not have it engineered for me.
        Freedom to earn fair wages, and pay a fair tax.
        Freedom to search for and pay for my own Medical care, and nt be forced to certin plans by Insurance companies.
        Freedom to bear arms if I choose it, even though I do not believe in Guns.

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        1. American View profile image61
          American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Good ones

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  3. knolyourself profile image59
    knolyourselfposted 13 years ago

    Nixon was the nail in the coffin of America as an ideal. Regan was the hammer.

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    1. dutchman1951 profile image61
      dutchman1951posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Kennedy was the beginings of making the Nail, Johnson interupted it, and Nixion made the way Possible for Regan to take the credit.

      Jobs gone overseas, de-regulations creating a mess, the 1980 start of the Wall Street un-controled grab bag mentality.
      The start of the Ivan Boskey style of Upper Management, the Rape and run CEO's.

      He, Regan was no hero.

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  4. starme77 profile image79
    starme77posted 13 years ago

    yup exaclty smile

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  5. knolyourself profile image59
    knolyourselfposted 13 years ago

    "He was not what he was hyped up to be." Actually he originally was a socialist and union rep, and all around nice guy, with extreme ringing ears. It was his wife who
    had the deleterious affect on him, as he was as dumb as dirt.

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  6. aware profile image67
    awareposted 13 years ago

    FDR and his Four Freedoms  address to congress  always brings goosebumps to my arms. Words worth reading .
    ray

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  7. aware profile image67
    awareposted 13 years ago

    its also important to note the words " every where in the world"
      my freedom is a hollow one till all men walk free
    ray

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  8. aware profile image67
    awareposted 13 years ago

    In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.

    The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world.

    The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world.

    The third is freedom from want—which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world.

    The fourth is freedom from fear—which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor—anywhere in the world.

    That is no vision of a distant millennium. It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation. That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb.
        ”
         
    — Franklin D. Roosevelt, excerpted from the State of the Union Address to the Congress, January 6, 1941
    i feel this way to
    ray

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    1. American View profile image61
      American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Good one Ray

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      1. TMMason profile image60
        TMMasonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

        FDR's second bill of rights was a Socialist trap, which we rejected. And for those who do not believe me, just look up, American National Socialism.

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  9. Steve_1066 profile image58
    Steve_1066posted 13 years ago

    Freedom? Why is it that Americans are so obsessed with freedom? Is it because it's their own freedom they're talking about? Freedom which comes at the expense of the rest of the world? I'm free to wear whatever I want, say whatever I want, do whatever I want, as long as the other guy working in that sweatshop on the other side of the world does as he's told? If he doesn't do as he's told we'll kidnap him ("rendition"), water-board him, or install a puppet government under our control.

    Freedom?

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    1. American View profile image61
      American Viewposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Because we Americans now what it tokk to be free and what it takes to keep it that way. We watch those in other countries who think they are free but are under the control of dictators. Oh they get to elect their leaders, but noone ever runs against them. We are free to do as we want. And we have come to the side of those who needed to be freed.

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    2. Evan G Rogers profile image60
      Evan G Rogersposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      First off, Freedom is an important factor in human progress. Einstein didn't come up with his theories of relativity under command from a king or Soviet Commissar. Nor did Ford develop mass production on direction from a US president or Congressman.

      Second, sweatshops aren't really that evil. Most people working in US led sweatshops are making upwards of 5 times the wages of other jobs they could land.

      Yeah, sure, it's still less than what we expect here, but imagine of a company opened up a shop nearby and asked for workers to work in hellish conditions...... for 50 bucks an hour!!! I'm sure quite a few would jump at the chance.

      But, only with those points do I disagree with you. The US really does need to get out of policing the world. We speak constantly of freedom... and then bomb the crap out of foreign lands with planes that fly miles above ground.

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  10. profile image0
    klarawieckposted 13 years ago

    Freedom is completely elusive. The only way to be free is to lose your mind. Then you'll have total freedom.

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  11. ddsurfsca profile image69
    ddsurfscaposted 13 years ago

    Just to add to something mentioned earlier on, I wonder when it was Reagon in Washington, how much of his second term was really him in charge, meaning I wonder if his mental alertness and memory had not affected him while he was in office, thus giving others the opportunity of putting words and ideas into effect through a man who really had not the mental capability to know what he was saying or doing....but just puppet-ing  those things he trusted others to tell him to be correct.
    As far as freedoms go, who is to say we are free.  I have lived in other countries, so dont think that I am just taking what we have here for granted.  We as americans do have it better than most other places, but setting that aside, true freedom to do what we choose, we do not have. 
    Let us take one or two things as examples of what I am referring to.  We have proved smoking to be unhealthy, but still many people do smoke.  Is it wrong to smoke?  Who is to say what is right or wrong for someone.  It is now illegal to smoke in many public places, including many outdoor places.  What has happened to the rights of those who do choose to smoke?  It is been squashed, and this is coming from a non smoker.
    Next, drugs and the right of people to do what they want.  As long as they do not push their drugs on me or mine, I say they should be free to do what they want.  Perhaps given the proper place to do so would help, as bars cater to drinkers.  For some people to tell others what they can or cannot do in the privacy of their own homes, is not a freedom, only giving some the ability to tell others what is right or wrong over their lives.

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  12. cindi h profile image61
    cindi hposted 13 years ago

    smilesmile Here Here!!  I'll drink & smoke to that!!!

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  13. tfboyle profile image58
    tfboyleposted 13 years ago

    Too bad we haven't had freedom in this country in 150 years, and even then it only applied to whites (and a few freed blacks).

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  14. John Holden profile image60
    John Holdenposted 13 years ago

    Good morning Quillgrapher,
    I wonder if one was black or Chicano or Muslim say, one would see quite so much freedom? Or indeed even white but of lower class?

    Again, liberty I see again as something that is enjoyed more by some people than others. How much liberty do those of "lesser" religions enjoy? How much liberty for homosexuals? Arabs?

    Your resume of the patriot act sums up quite nicely my doubts about the freedoms you supposedly enjoy.

    I accept that my WASP comment was a bit narrow, but only a bit!

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    1. Quilligrapher profile image70
      Quilligrapherposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hello John,
           If you qualify, Happy Father’s Day to you. Hope you had a wonderful weekend.
           If you don’t mind, I would like to reconstruct this thread as I respond to your last comment to me. I apologize for the length but I’ve never been know for brevity. roll


           You sure did surprise me, John, with the WASP comment. I thought it was way off the mark and not by just a little bit.

           I realize now, while Dennis and I referred to liberties contained in the US Constitution, your point had more to do with how these liberties play out in American society. 

           You continued with social issues, John, but without reference to the liberties mentioned in our Constitution.
            You imply some liberties "supposedly" exit but you don’t mention any. You ask rhetorical questions to infer some groups are denied liberty but you don’t cite any facts. You state your conclusions but fail to explain how you arrived at them. While I would like to dialog, I can only respond by guessing at what you are trying to say.
           I think your statements, John, are about the conditions that some face in our society while my remarks have been about the principles of liberty embedded in the original US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I see present social conditions and constitutional liberties as two different subjects. Here’s why.

      Conditions for non-citizens and immigrants are not easy, of that I have no doubt. They have not yet gained the same traction achieved by other groups who came before them. Over the last 150 years, wave after wave of immigrants arrived on our shores. Each shared a common reality. They had to work harder than others to achieve their goals. This was true in 1903 when my grandfather arrived in New York from Europe and it is true today for the latest arrivals looking to have a better life then the one they left behind. I would say to the children to these immigrants, “You can achieve any station in life you choose if you are willing to work hard to make it happen.” Social and economic conditions must be better here.  Why else would so many leave their homelands to live in America?  I cringe when others use a series of questions to support their opinions rather than providing facts. How about you?  I will be happy to provide verifiable references comparing living standards if you wish.

      But everything I just said concerns how people in our society deal with people. Now, how about American citizens and the liberties recognized and protected by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? You imply some blacks, Chicanos, Muslims, classes, religions, nationalities, homosexuals, Arabs, and other groups are denied liberty by the Constitution. Therefore, I invite you to read our Constitution, including the first ten Amendments (Articles) known as the Bill of Rights (http://constitutionus.com/#billofrights). Then please point out to me which groups it says are excluded from the liberties it  recognizes and protects. I know of only two: slaves and women. Both of these injustices were remedied a long time ago.  But I have been known to be very wrong, quite often.

      We both know of deeds that disregarded the ideals of the Constitution, but these events do not detract one iota from the merits of those principles because they stand above and separate from the acts of individuals and groups. While the Constitution does not, on its own, make for a perfect society, it does provide the principles and a legal framework for building a nation in which all people can “secure the Blessings of Liberty” for themselves and their posterity.
      Have a great day!

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  15. bynextdigital profile image61
    bynextdigitalposted 10 months ago

    This view emphasizes the fragility of freedom and the responsibility that comes with it. It underscores the idea that freedom is not a guaranteed inheritance but rather a continuous effort that each generation must actively engage in to preserve. The metaphorical language of not passing it "in the bloodstream" suggests that freedom is not an innate or automatic trait but something that requires conscious effort and sacrifice.
    https://bynext.com/


    The call to action to fight for, protect, and hand down freedom implies that it is an ongoing process that demands vigilance. It stresses the intergenerational nature of this responsibility, highlighting the idea that each generation is entrusted with the duty to secure freedom not only for themselves but for those who will come after them.

    In essence, this perspective serves as a reminder that the struggle for freedom is a perpetual journey, and its survival is contingent upon the commitment and actions of each successive generation. It encourages a sense of duty and stewardship toward the principles of liberty, emphasizing that freedom is a legacy that must be actively safeguarded to prevent its erosion or extinction.

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