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chatterbox24 -> RE: Who are more free... Americans or Europeans (7/26/2013 5:16:59 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: DarkWolf6606
Freedom is a relative term. Also, in reference to the comparison, Europe is a diversified geographical area comprised of a multitude of ethnic groups, widely varied cultures and histories that go back thousands of years. Therefore, the meaning of freedom would have to be considered from a historical and cultural point of view as well as a governmental one for each and every country and those who inhabit various parts of it. Perhaps those who live in what is currently one country but was once forcibly taken from another at some recent point in history but share the same cultural and ethnic history as their former country may not view themselves as free at all.
Since maps of been redrawn since time immemorial both here and abroad, and these United States were once the home of thousands of culturally diverse peoples previous to the European occupation and dissemination of their territories there are many considerations to be made in forming the question. If one is referring only to the various legal systems and whether or not we citizens of the United States believe ourselves to be freer or not. Being of American Indian heritage myself (you can keep the politically correct Native American reference to yourself) I may see things from a completely different viewpoint. Not only a legal standing but an economic one as well.
That is if I view freedom from the same narrow perspective that most ordinary "Americans" do. And I don't.
And again, "Americans" should in the name of accuracy, include all countries that are part of the Americas, though it is well known that most citizens of the United States in their culturally induced self-indulgence and self-deception refer to themselves as Americans without regard to any of the other cultures and peoples that inhabit the Americas.
Freedom is as individual as one's religion or spirituality. It is not something that can be measured with any accuracy nor compared except on an individual basis. The question might have been posed as "is quality of life better here or in Europe" as one's freedom is defined within the individual and no government or society can bestow freedom nor take it away. Even many of those who spend their entire lives incarcerated may have more freedom than a "normal" person.
As far as bantering back and forth of the merits of one society or country in comparison to another I say it is still a matter of perspective and relevant facts.
I must say that I did read in an earlier post the claim that the U.S. is number one in almost everything. Sorry, but I had to laugh. The facts just don't support the statement. But for the sake of accuracy here are a few where the U.S. does rank far and above all others:
#1 The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world and the largest total prison population on the entire globe.
#2 According to NationMaster.com, the United States has the highest percentage of obese people in the world.
#3 The United States has the highest divorce rate on the globe by a wide margin.
#4 The United States is tied with the U.K. for the most hours of television watched per person each week.
#5 The United States has the highest rate of illegal drug use on the entire planet.
#6 There are more car thefts in the United States each year than anywhere else in the world by far.
#7 There are more reported rapes in the United States each year than anywhere else in the world.
#8 There are more reported murders in the United States each year than anywhere else in the world.
#9 There are more total crimes in the United States each year than anywhere else in the world.
#10 The United States also has more police officers than anywhere else in the world.
#11 The United States spends much more on health care as a percentage of GDP than any other nation on the face of the earth.
#12 The United States has more people on pharmaceutical drugs than any other country on the planet.
#13 The percentage of women taking antidepressants in America is higher than in any other country in the world.
#14 Americans have more student loan debt than anyone else in the world.
#15 More pornography is created in the United States than anywhere else on the entire globe. 89 percent is made in the U.S.A. and only 11 percent is made in the rest of the world.
#16 The United States has the largest trade deficit in the world every single year. Between December 2000 and December 2010, the United States ran a total trade deficit of 6.1 trillion dollars with the rest of the world, and the U.S. has had a negative trade balance every single year since 1976.
#17 The United States spends 7 times more on the military than any other nation on the planet does. In fact, U.S. military spending is greater than the military spending of China, Russia, Japan, India, and the rest of NATO combined.
#18 The United States has far more foreign military bases than any other country does.
#19 The United States has the most complicated tax system in the entire world.
#20 The U.S. has accumulated the biggest national debt that the world has ever seen and it is rapidly getting worse. Right now, U.S. government debt is expanding at a rate of $40,000 per second.
I rest my case...
Would you be offended if I called you a smart wild Indian?[:D] I mean that in jest, I'm a Heinz 57, with a little of this and a little of that, which includes some American Indian, and I am very proud of that. Scottish, English, German, and American Indian. I am proud of all the good parts of all those cultures and people.
Yep USA, has some problems, some serious ones, I think we are a little to big for our britches sometimes, and miss our priority because of that. I am glad to live here though.
Good informative post.
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