The only freedom that's absolute is the freedom that comes from knowing who you are. All other kinds of freedom have some sort of constraints. The classic statement is "you're not free to yell fire in a theater" -- i.e. you're not free to put others in danger, do harm to others, etc. -- that's the moral principle behind our legal system, basically. You're free to do whatever you like as long as it doesn't infringe on the rights of others. EXCEPT... well, that's not really true here, is it? You're not free to marry if you're gay in most states, even though there's no reasonable infringement to the rights of others involved. So there's an example where the principles of law have been distorted into something that would be unpredictable to someone who only knew the principles. Generally, we're in pretty good shape relative to many other countries regarding personal freedoms. There are some areas where the constraints are unjustified, but for the most part we're pretty free. Since there is no right to *absolute* freedom in social contexts, I'd give us an A-. But of course I can't resist the reminder of my opening line: the most important freedom is neither granted by law nor revoked by tyranny... it's the freedom that comes with self-understanding. Freedom from conditioning, freedom from the past, freedom from greed, ignorance, and fear rooted in our own confusion. No other freedom even comes close in value.

America is not free for bloggers-- anytime a person says something deemed negative by their employer they can and it seems like WILL be fired

I think there are freedoms like 1) Freedom of Press 2) Freedom of Religion You really can't scream "fire" in a crowded theater.

More free than anywhere else I know of. Grow up.

We don't have free speech, either. Look at these phone bills, they're positively atrocious. "Idk, my bff, Jill?"

Freedom is such a relative concept that it's hard to make an absolute statement. For example, there are "power groups" in this country that permit their members to do things that others (non-members) can't do. A black man is not as free to drive in a white neighborhood as a white man is to drive in a black neihborhood. Is this "freedom"? An individual who has been provided a private education may get a better job than a person who has worked for a public education. Is this freedom? A person with little money must go to the emergency room for primary medical care while the person with health insurance can go to a private doctor. Is this freedom? When we had the draft during the Vietnam war, if you were "well connected" you didn't get drafted. If no connections, the chances of being drafted were much higher. How many of the people who go into the military today do so because they are guaranteed 3 square meals, clothing and shelter? Do they really have freedom of choice? Is our country better than anywhere else in the world. Mostly, yes. But there are other countries with infinitely better medical systems (Cuba, for example), the literacy rate is much higher (Japan), the educational system is better, and so forth. Which only means that whatever rating you want to give the USA, we can do much better. That we don't is a shame. Shame on us for not having a decent medical care system, a decent educational system, and so on and so forth.

I learned to think of it this way, You are free to do as you please just so long as what you please doesn't infringe on someone elses freedom. My freedom ends at the end of my fist. Your freedom begins at the end of your nose. Unfortunately some folks think that their noses are way longer than the average nose.

The comment wouldn't post so I'm going to comment in the answers box. Is that allowed? See if this helps. Your freedom 'begins' at your nose & that's where the other guys freedom ends. You have the right to do as you please until what you please interferes with what someone else pleases. Someone else has the right to do as they please until what pleases them interferes with what pleases you. In a grossly oversimplified way: Joe is traveling north, Larry is traveling south. They both have the right to travel the same path but which has the right to insist the other make way? Compromise or conflict. If the one moves aside, surrendering his rights to avoid conflict, he becomes the compromiser unless, by way of intimidation, the other took the rights away, thereby becoming the winner of the conflict. Simple solution – If we try to be too politically correct there won't be any need for kindness, politeness and good manners.