gradual erosion of freedom

[seamusTX]

I was struck by the recognition the last time I visited Ireland how terrific their toilets are.

I seriously hope this discussion is not going to hinge on how toilets flush in Ireland.

Handguns and semiautomatic weapons are totally banned in Ireland.

Their labor laws are a socialist workers' paradise:
http://www.ilo.org/ifpdial/information- ... /index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All the European countries have high regulatory burdens and taxes on business. Most have a VAT in the range of 15 to 25%. This is a sales tax on consumers in addition to income tax, their equivalent of social security, and property taxes. Oh, and motor fuel taxes in the range of $2 to $5 per U.S. gallon.

In other countries it's even worse. Anyone trying to run a business in most of the rest of the world has to bribe corrupt officials and fend off organized crime (which is also bribing the same officials).

Try getting a concealed carry license or even a license to own a firearm in any other country (where you are a legal resident). It's either impossible or requires major legal fees or payoffs.

- Jim

[philip964]

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/11/ ... ffic-stop/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Killed and brought back to life by the police. Excellent job by the officer doing the CPR. Obviously she made some mistakes. You don't run away from police and try and lock yourself in your car. In addition, when asked if they can look in your purse you just say no. (and you leave the purse in the car)

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

But in her own car on the side of the road, not drunk, not high, calmly cooperated with police for over 15 minutes.

They are still prosecuting her for resisting arrest and for a misdemeanor amount of MJ. Apparently trying to make a trade with her lawyer.

Well in the end, she will be a wealthy woman when it is over.

[philip964]

We have lost no freedom's. If anything we have more today than 60 years ago. There may be some impediments to reach them (think airport, court, school security, all in place to help keep us safe) but they are still there. Any one expecting personal privacy in the public or cyber domain in this day and age is living in a fantasy world. We live in the freest society in the world, bar none. If you don't believe that, I recommend going to live in another nation for a while to appreciate what we have.

I agree, we live in the freest society in the world. However, Holland seem pretty free last time I was there. But the concern is that we do not want to loose what we have, due to the water being gradually warmed.

[seamusTX]

Regarding the Encino, CA, case, please tell me whom to vote for, to stop the police from using tasers on people who fail to comply with orders. I tried voting libertarian. That never worked.

You can't tell how free a country is by walking around, especially as an American tourist with money. Most countries are decent when people obey the laws, pay taxes, and otherwise keep their nose clean.

The problems start to show up when someone is a non-conformist, and I don't mean just in terms of tattoos or sexual orientation. Some religious activities are banned. Some political parties are banned. Some points of view cannot be published or spoken in public. Most of Europe has laws prohibiting denigration of religions, races, or nationalities (such as antisemitism). Members of a band in Russia whose name ends in Riot were just sentenced to prison for supposedly denigrating religion.

Again, try acquiring a firearm. Either you can't (legally), or it's about as difficult as getting a class 3 license here. God forbid you should use deadly force to defend yourself.

- Jim

[philip964]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/san- ... Kv-B4ZT_Ts" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And look here, just when you thought you had the freedom to walk around San Fransisco completely naked.

I didn't read to closely, but in the past, I think there may or may not have been some restrictions on places where people eat.

I am for freedom. So I guess I should be for this, however, maybe this can just stay in San Fransisco.

[seamusTX]

Some of these cases push the edge of the envelope too far (and not just IMHO).

Every community has the right to set local standards, and that's the way it should be. San Francisco has been one of the most tolerant cities in the world for a long time. It was noted for that in the 19th century. Some people think it's Sodom and/or Gomorrah.

But these nudists were becoming offensive even to residents of the Castro district—which is a feat.

Clothing and behavior that wouldn't draw a second look in an American city would get a person arrested or whipped in Saudi Arabia, and maybe stoned to death in certain parts of Afghanistan.

- Jim

[baldeagle]

We have lost no freedom's. If anything we have more today than 60 years ago. There may be some impediments to reach them (think airport, court, school security, all in place to help keep us safe) but they are still there. Any one expecting personal privacy in the public or cyber domain in this day and age is living in a fantasy world. We live in the freest society in the world, bar none. If you don't believe that, I recommend going to live in another nation for a while to appreciate what we have.

You're the one living in a fantasy world. Can you smoke where you want to if you want to? Can you drive without a seatbelt if you want to? Can you buy an incandescent light bulb if you want to? A toilet that isn't a water saver? A refrigerator that isn't energy star rated? Can you start a cab company if you want to without paying the city a fortune? Can you carry a weapon for your own protection wherever you go no matter what state you are in? Can you drive a vehicle without a license? Can you own gold that hasn't been government approved? Can you hire someone to care for your elderly parent who isn't forced to be licensed by the state? Can you bury your dead on your own property?

Do I need to go on? We are less free than our forefathers were by a great distance, and we get less freer each day. Soon the government will tell you what doctor you can see, whether or not you're allowed to have the operation you need, whether or not you can take the drugs you need to stay alive, etc., etc., etc.

The fact that people still think America is a free country is proof that we don't know our history, don't really understand what freedom is and have betrayed our birthright to our own detriment. The government controls many aspects of your life and soon will control even more. And for what? A sense of safety? This is the same foolhardiness that convinces people they don't need to carry a weapon because the police will take care of the problem. This despite the reality of thousands and thousands of dead testaments to the government's inability to do anything but punish the perpetrators afterwards.

[philip964]

They passed the law.

You can't run around naked in San Fransisco anymore.

[seamusTX]

Do you really want men walking around naked? I don't. The heroes of the American Revolution did not give their lives for the freedom to walk around naked.

Freedom has always been a balance between the freedom of one person to do what he wants and right of others to be free of the consequences of dangerous, damaging, and offensive actions.

If you think public nudity is OK, I can think of several other things that can't be mentioned in this forum, which I can almost guarantee you never want to see.

- Jim

[philip964]

http://twitchy.com/2012/11/20/tsa-repor ... ccidental/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Texas lawmaker's 17 year old grand niece's breast exposed during TSA pat down. Niece arrested for nudity in public place.

I made the last part up.

[Dave2]

http://twitchy.com/2012/11/20/tsa-repor ... ccidental/

Texas lawmaker's 17 year old grand niece's breast exposed during TSA pat down. Niece arrested for nudity in public place.

I made the last part up.

The TSA agent should be arrested, though, not just fired. Some "accidents" have more dire consequences than others. Actually, since there was almost certainly a camera somewhere as well, they should charge the guy with making kiddy porn, too.

[BigGuy]

Attention puny humans!



This FREEDOM you continually babble about is an illusion we grow weary of allowing.
Glimpse of your life in 2020 thanks to the Internet of Things
Resistance is futile.

[The Annoyed Man]

In freedom closer to home a San Antonio girl is being expelled from a San Antonio magnet high school for science and engineering for refusing to wear a RFID id tag around her neck as the school district has required.

A judge gave her a reprieve: http://cnsnews.com/blog/craig-bannister ... vice-badge.

Andrea Hernandez won’t have to leave her high school for refusing to wear a badge designed to track her every move there – yet – her attorneys announced today.

A district court judge for Bexar County, Texas, has granted a temporary restraining order to prevent Northside Independent School District from removing a Hernandez from John Jay High School’s Science and Engineering Academy because she refused to wear a name badge designed to use a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip to track students’ precise location on school property, the Hernandez’s attorneys announced today.

“The court’s willingness to grant a temporary restraining order is a good first step, but there is still a long way to go—not just in this case, but dealing with the mindset, in general, that everyone needs to be monitored and controlled,” said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute.

[seamusTX]

Standing on principle is a wonderful thing when you're young and idealistic. Some constitutional protection might exist in this case because it is a taxpayer-funded public school.

But if and when this young lady gets a job either with a large corporation or federal agency (like NASA) she will find herself having to use some kind of ID or PIN to get through doors 20 times a day—as I do.

- Jim

[WildBill]

Standing on principle is a wonderful thing when you're young and idealistic. Some constitutional protection might exist in this case because it is a taxpayer-funded public school.

But if and when this young lady gets a job either with a large corporation or federal agency (like NASA) she will find herself having to use some kind of ID or PIN to get through doors 20 times a day—as I do. - Jim

This goes back a long way. While in school, many college students vilify and protest against the "big evil corporations".

When they graduate, where do they send their resumes?