Quote:
Originally posted by Liberty Landing
We are not watched constantly by 4,000,000 close-circuit surveillance cameras (as in Britain). |
How many then? You can't be claiming there aren't any. I've seen them. I'll bet there are a
lot more in the States. But, like you, I'm guessing.
Quote:
| We have legal access to firearms (unlike many western nations). |
Which, precisely,
deprives Americans of the freedom to go about their business without fear of death by armed lunatic, a freedom widely enjoyed by the citizens of other Western democracies. I cherish that particular freedom.
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| Until recently, we had fewer restrictions on political speech (thanks a lot, McCain-Feingold). I think we still might, but I'm not sure. |
I'm not sure either. In fact I strongly doubt it. But even if you could demonstrate superior
de jure freedoms, what is the situation in practice? For example, I know no-one in other democracies who hesitates to express his political opinions in e-mails. But I've heard precisely that fear expressed in the US since 911. And -- this isn't scientifically verifiable of course, but a matter of observation -- in most parts of the States there is enormous
de facto pressure to keep your mouth shut in public unless you're planning to express 'correct' views.
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| We do not prohibit certain parties from participating in the political process just because we disapprove of their message (Germany). |
No need to (see tusaki's point) since they're all marginalized by the money-driven coporate propaganda system and, if need be, by 'other means'.
I agree that it's unfortunate the Germans ban this and that. Hopefully with time they'll feel more sure-footed as a mature democracy and lift those bans. In the meantime a far,
far broader range of political views is expressed every day in the mainline German media than you ever see in the US. That's a fact.
A great deal about the system in the US is admirable, but this snooty "we're freer" attitude is really too much.