Why Do Americans Care So Much About Freedom

[H_factor]

@mnben87

You need to learn from history. Remember bapolean? His threads were absurd, but tons of replies.

The more well thought out and written a thread is the less likely it will be popular. The absurd ones have always got the most traffic.

[Aragorn]

@NickViar

I don’t think this is true. They sometimes pay for the development and initial offerings of things that eventually become affordable for us.

That’s a good point. I agree new technologies are mostly developed with leverage from very wealthy investors or heads of companies. I was thinking more along the lines of improvement as in “my ability to get a job”, or better myself and my opportunities instead of affordable products to consume.

[Aragorn]

@zecarlo

When they are the de facto ruling class it matters

True. Money yields leverage. My rebuttal isn’t so much a rebuttal as just saying that’s not the way the OP was implying. He was implying that we are powerless to improve ourselves BECAUSE OF random rich dudes. Or at least that’s how I took it.

[Iron_Condor]

@anna_5588

Is he Russian? Why does he like Moscow?

@loppar

Talk some sense into him. Most of the Russian civil servants still live in small Khrushchyovkas and are saving up for a piece real estate in the evil West.

Only a fool or an oligarch buys real estate in Moscow.

We’re both Russian-Australian dual citizens, born in Moscow and grew up in Australia, though he currently lives in the US. He has visited Moscow a few times as an adult but never lived there long-term, but for some reason now wants to move there. Why? I have no idea. He’s certainly not an oligarch.

[Beyond_Beyond]

@Aragorn

I give exactly zero shits about wealth inequality. I don’t care how much “the billionaire class” has. It has exactly no bearing on my ability to improve my life, and someone will ALWAYS have more than you. So who gives a fuck. That’s just a clever way to scapegoat, and I hate scapegoating.

Its not about rich people having a lot of money, Its about the decline of the middle class. Its about the reduction of opportunities to maintain a first world lifestyle, for the majority of citizens.
There will always be jobs, but will they pay enough for you to support a family, pay for a house etc? Now at the moment this problem might not effect you, but what about your other fellow Americans? Not a good recipe for a peaceful, healthy society.

These same rich people are globalists, and in the main support either offshoring their businesses to reduce labour costs, or flooding the domestic market with cheap immigrant labour. They don’t care about you or anyone else in the country.

[strongmangoals]

@Beyond_Beyond

I don’t think there has been a significant change in accidents or deaths from young drivers as a result of more education, and limitations. All it means is kids have to unnecessarily jump through hoops to satisfy authorities, for no real use.

Not surprised. 120 hours being a perfect citizen is not going to help you in that 2 seconds you decide to do some dumb shit you know you shouldn’t do but you do it anyway because you’re young and dumb and Chuck in the back dared you

[loppar]

@Iron_Condor

He has visited Moscow a few times as an adult but never lived there long-term, but for some reason now wants to move there. Why? I have no idea.

Is it for the women? Muscovite women tend to lose their shit over Russian men with foreign (dual) citizenship. If that is the case, there are more efficient ways to find one without buying a apartment on the outskirts.

[zecarlo]

@Aragorn

He was implying that we are powerless to improve ourselves BECAUSE OF random rich dudes.

I would agree if we look at ourselves relative to ourselves and not to billionaires. It’s easy to blame a lack of success on others. And when it comes to having a say over our lives, humans have always been limited. Cavemen didn’t have much choice when it came to their lives.

[Aragorn]

@zecarlo

I would agree if we look at ourselves relative to ourselves and not to billionaires. It’s easy to blame a lack of success on others

This is how I look at it. Of course there are extra responsibilities for leaders in industry and politics, I don’t say different. That’s the nature of being a leader. I just very much object to this victim mentality displayed in the OP.

[marine77]

Victimhood is so chic now. Weak people create hard times. Its coming

[dagill2]

@zecarlo

Cavemen didn’t have much choice when it came to their lives.

This is what I always see in discussions like this. People wringing their hands and racking their brains trying to figure out if they’re one of the luckiest 0.001% of humans to ever live, or only one of the 0.01% and, of course, who’s to blame.

[marine77]

Attitude and perspective. Often overlooked and undervalued.

[NickViar]

Zep, can you provide any proof that Americans(as a whole) actually do care about freedom?

[RT_Nomad]

@NickViar

any proof that Americans(as a whole) actually do care about freedom?

From my life long experience (72 years) Americans are consistently balancing freedom vs security.
Sure Americans, as a whole, value freedom.
But security can, and usually does, cause Americans to value less their freedom. “Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” And you can add comfort and safety from harm (monetary and physical) to his life.

Sometimes freedom and security team up, as in the Second Amendment.

[dagill2]

@RT_Nomad

From my life long experience (72 years) Americans are consistently balancing freedom vs security

I think you can substitute “people” for Americans without much controversy.

[marine77]

Freedom requires responsibility. Freedom in a vacuum isn’t freedom at all.

[Californiagrown]

@marine77

Freedom requires responsibility.

Could not agree more. But, IME we have a helluva lot more freedom than responsibility right now… And most people won’t admit it but when the rubber meets the road they would gladly trade some freedom in exchange for less responsibility.

[dagill2]

Devil’s Advocate here: is it really freedom if you still have responsibilities? If you’re still tied by the social contract, are you truly free?

[zecarlo]

@dagill2

If you’re still tied by the social contract, are you truly free?

No, you are a grown man.

[dagill2]

I’m confused by your point here.