--Just wondering, is Liberty dead in this country, or did it ever exist?--

[1corona4u]

Poll question: --Just wondering, is Liberty dead in this country, or did it ever exist?--

Liberty;

autonomy: immunity from arbitrary exercise of authority: political independence
freedom of choice; "liberty of opinion"; "liberty of worship"; "liberty--perfect liberty--to think or feel or do just as one pleases"; "at liberty to choose whatever occupation one wishes"
personal freedom from servitude or confinement or oppression


Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution;
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

[1corona4u]

1. Kick

[1corona4u]

2. Fascinating....82 views, not one comment...

[FatherTime1408]

3. Maybe you should give us some context as to what you mean. NT

[1corona4u]

4. I did.

I specifically pointed out the context of my question, with the definition I posted. In the scope of that definition, is what I wanted to know if people thought existed. Personally, I don't see how it could, or ever did exist.

[Shakespeare]

5. Okay, you've given us context. How about motivation?

What event moved you to post this?

[1corona4u]

9. Just thinking generally about the word 'liberty'.....

and what it meant. It seems to me that it can not exist in society.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Is liberty dead, or did it ever exist - Yes or No

See the problem with that phrasing?

[1corona4u]

7. I gave other options.

You were at liberty to choose one, or state another. ;-)

[Redbear]

8. Bush-Cheney tried to kill it

but they failed

[TheKentuckian]

10. Never really existed but is just as real or more so

than it has ever been. The problem is the illusion has broken down more for the majority than anything else.

Its just more difficult to suspend disbelief now but there has never been liberty in any widespread fashion in this country or probably any other.

[H2O Man]

11. Interesting question.

In many ways, it is difficult to answer in a few words. To a large extent, there has been a degree of liberty in this country. This is especially true for two groups: those from the top economic class; and those who rarely seek to exercise liberty.

It has certainly been denied to other groups, ranging from Native Americans to the poor people of any racial/ethnic groups.

I have always found Erich Fromm's introduction to A.S. Neill's book "Summerhill" to be an interesting view of the forces that stifle liberty. Of course, the school in question was in England, not the USA. But Fromm spoke of "authority" .... and compared "overt" authority, that says "do not do a.b. or c, or you will be punished severely," versus anonymous authority, which tends to say, "wouldn't you like to do x,y, and z, so that you are like everyone else?"