DKos: The death of discourse: Part II (Freedom)

[Louisiana1976]

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Freedom is a curious concept. It is highly personal and the understanding of the notion varies from culture-to-culture. Americans love to stand on the roof-tops and yell at the top of their lungs the United States is the "land of the free, and the home of the brave." Our freedoms supposedly make us inherently different from almost every other country on the planet. But do average Americans really understand what freedom is all about? Do they have any clue how freedom in a democratic state exists or functions? Based on the incoherent answers most people give when challenged on what freedom is, it quickly becomes evident that the concept is lost on most people.

The American ideal of freedom has become focused on the rights of the individual, and how those rights should supersede those of the collective. This ideal flies in the face of the communal nature of the human experience. As animals we don’t live a solitary existence or act exclusively in an autonomous fashion. We live in small social groups and allow those collectives to interact with others providing the products and services we cannot provide for ourselves. Social norms have been established that frame acceptable behaviors and attitudes. Our individual actions must comply with these expectations and, for most people, our decisions are based on what is allowable or considered socially acceptable within our society. The social nature of man conflicts with the current American interpretation of freedom making this archetype a fallacy in the modern world.

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/7/811680/-The-Death-of-Discourse:Part-II-(Freedom)

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. I read the whole piece at DKos

While I agree with some of what was written, there was much to disagree with IMHO. The writers idea of freedom as being free from anxiety and happiness is found in knowing one's place in society is nonsense.

The author writes,
"Freedom is that which alleviates all anxiety and allows us to live full and plentiful lives."

The writer is simply dead wrong about where freedom originates. Freedom originates in the rule of law and nowhere else.

The author is also incorrect about societal norms being sufficient to insure freedom and about the human experience. Individual liberty secured through the rule of law is the cornerstone of freedom.