10 Ways Americans Are No Longer Free

[annabanana]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/287-124/13222-10-ways-americans-are-no-longer-free

Our most fundamental rights, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are under assault. But the adversary is Big Wealth, not Big Government as conservatives like to claim. Consider:

Life? The differences in life expectancy between wealthier and lower-income Americans are increasing, not decreasing.

Liberty? Digital corporations are assaulting our privacy, while banks trap us in indebtedness that approaches indentured servitude. The shrunken ranks of working Americans are being robbed of their essential liberties - including the right to use the bathroom.

The pursuit of happiness? Social mobility in the United States is dead. Career choices are increasingly limited. As for working hard and earning more, consider this: Between 1969 and 2008 the average US income went up by $11,684. How much of that went to the top 10? All of it. Income for the remaining 90 percent actually went down.

These changes didn't just happen. Wealthy individuals and corporations made it happen - and they're still at it. Meanwhile, Corporate America's wholesale theft of your individual liberties has been rebranded as a fight for … the corporation's individual liberty.

A great read.

[Major Nikon]

1. This is why I get a kick out of the teahaddists who wear flag shirts yelling freedom

I suspect most of them have never owned a passport and bothered to visit one of dozens of countries where actual freedom is much more highly valued.

The only nitpick I have with this list is religious freedom is excluded which really only exists for Christians. Everyone else is told to pound sand.

[darkangel218]

2. I beg to differ. We are still Free, i dont know where you get this nonsense from.

[Egalitarian Thug]

4. Did you read the piece? If so, how about disputing it instead of simply declaring it nonsense? n/t

[TalkingDog]

6. Thank you. Gahhh... I hate it when they do that.

n/t

[darkangel218]

9. This is fear mongering propaganda

I don't see how the upper class is is taking our Freedom away. I would be scared of course, it the Republicans win, but as right now i feel perfectly free, within the norms of the society. Some things have changed in comparison with the past ( ie the Patriot Act ) but we live in ever changing times and we must adapt to the international scene of events.
I cringe when I see how many are simply giving up Believing in our country, maybe you haven't traveled abroad to see the Difference. We haven't lost our freedom, we have lost our Unity and our Optimism about our future.
Of course I am not saying we shouldn't be on top of things,.or have open discussions and concerns,.but to simply put it as 10 ways US has lost its freedoms is a bit much.
This is my opinion, obviously you can disagree; to each their own.

[datasuspect]

11. random capitalization

check

[Egalitarian Thug]

13. So you don't actually have an argument, you just disagree with the facts brought up

in the article. Widespread acceptance that facts don't matter and all opinions are equal, is how we got here.

[Quantess]

14. You haven't been paying attention,

like so many others out there. You can wake up anytime you want, but sooner is better than later.
As for traveling abroad, you have a point if you would like to examine the USA next to a 3rd world country. I live in a wealthy country in europe and it is arguably more democratic here, with far less inequality.

[hobbit709]

8. you don't know much about the rest of the world, do you?

we talk a lot about freedom here but don't try to use them.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. Your hair is green.

[Egalitarian Thug]

3. K&R Excellent article. n/t

[Freddie]

5. Thanks for the excellent read!

Just posted to my wall, let the RW flaming begin.

[blaze]

7. K&R nt

[raouldukelives]

10. K&R nt

[woo me with science]

15. K&R