Does the United States has more freedom than countries like England, France, and Netherlands.

What’s considered “Freedom” is probably relative.

The U.S. does have question marks though, and that’s a big thing to me.

It depends on how much money you have. If you’re well off, the answer is yes. If you’re not, the answer is no.

Not really, no. And those countries all have much stronger social support structures, so I’m sure you could make the argument that they’re more free.

Also, the USA has the world’s highest prison population, so there’s another strike.

Ha!
No

It’s a mixed bag. In terms of educational and career options, I think the US allows for a greater degree of choice. There is more opportunity to redirect one’s life — go back to school or change careers, even at an advanced age — than European societies tend to offer.

There are far fewer restrictions placed on businesses in the US, and entrepreneurship is easier than in Europe; but if you’re an employee, you have more freedom in the European countries mentioned.

If you want to own a handgun, you have that freedom in the States. If you’re gay and want to get married, though, chances are you’re out of luck.

Many Americans would argue that taxation is an infringement on freedom, because the government then decides how your money is spent. Europeans are more likely to see the social services funded by their taxes as basic to a free society, since it frees all citizens from worrying about the essentials of life.

Most European states offer a wider array of political choices than the American system does. The proportional parliamentary systems give less mainstream political parties a real chance at some power. In the US, we seem unable to break out of the two-party mode, and even those two offer little substantial difference.

Of course, in terms of social permissiveness, it’s hard to beat the Netherlands.

Well for one it’s easier to start a business than most places. Taxes are far less restrictive. Social freedoms of expression in film, t.v. and radio are far more restrictive here. The capacity to build a business empire with the necessary infrastructure is far easier here than most anywhere on earth. Yet the weight will be entirely upon your own efforts. The greatest freedom we have is freedom of growth.
Which by the looks of the populace is exponentially expanding with every strip mall and KFC we erect

I don’t think so. I believe that other countries take better care of ALL of their citizens. In the US we are not all equal, even though we say that it is one of our core beliefs.

If I could just add one thing-

One of the greatest impairments to freedom in the US is the way our political process is held hostage by money. Corporate and other wealthy interest groups wield a disproportionate influence on policy (often, ironically, defended on the basis of “freedom of speech”). Despite safeguards, the public debate seems to always swing in favor of who can field the most lobbyists and buy the most TV time.

While lobbying is on the rise in Europe, it got a much later start and hasn’t yet developed into quite the industry we have in the States. Corporations are also kept on a shorter legal leash throughout most of Europe

@Harp
Corporations are also kept on a shorter legal leash throughout most of Europe
Yes and taxed at an enormous rate which hamstrings their economy to compete with us. Big business is not by nature bad. It drives our GDP.

@SeventhSense What’s creepy about the relationship of the American corporation to politics is the status of corporations as “legal persons” enjoying the rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights. It’s under the umbrella of the first amendment that corporations pour their money into the political arena. This bizarre status came into being under highly dubious circumstances and persists for reasons you can well imagine.

I have a corporation. I own very little to protect but regardless the nature of this entity protects me from being abused by excess litigation, taxation and abuses from the private sector. If someone sues my company they can not take my personal property. A corporation is designed to protect people regardless of whether some abuses exist.

Sure, and that all makes sense. It’s extending the Bill of Rights to corporations that does not.

Well I’m all for campaign finance reform. Even removing private money altogether, but that seems unlikely.

Hear, hear!

Yes and no. An example for less freedom in the US is public breastfeeding. Or a 20-year-old adult drinking a bottle of beer.