[LittleRedToyota]

in some ways, america has more liberty than any other country. particularly when it comes to gun rights...i don't think any other country is on par with us. we are at least near the top when it comes to free speech rights, as well. and our private property rights are at least up there. we have more freedom of religion than most countries.

in other ways, though, we have much less liberty than some other countries. when it comes to having control over what you do with your own body, for example, we are way behind. the war on drugs, anti-prostitution laws, suicide being illegal, etc. etc. these are all severe restrictions on liberty. we lag far behind many countries when it comes to liberty in these areas.

democracy and liberty are not the same thing at all, btw. in fact, democracy without a constitution constraining it often leads to severe restrictions of liberty...minorities end up being subjected to the whims of the masses and you get mob rule.

we have a long, long way to go, though, before we even get close to the ideal that individuals have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. the nanny state is antithetical to that...the more the nanny state grows, the further we get from that ideal.