And truthfully, to me, in my own opinion... This is pretty lame.
This form of "Freedom" is blatantly stupid.
When the freedoms of a few hinder the freedoms of the majority.
That's just plain stupid.
The first most glaring example is the COVID situation.
Many people refuse to wear masks. Politicians/Lawmakers are very hesitant to impose legislation on mask wearing. Cos there are enough people willing to make trouble so that they can continue to not-wear masks.
Masks are similar to wearing a seat belt in a car. If they can have laws on wearing seat belts, then they can have laws on masks.
If they can have laws requiring people to wear clothes out when they leave the house, then they can have laws to require masks.
But they don't.
Another example is...
The freedom to own guns. Personally, I believe that people should have the right to own guns.
HOWEVER, there are many people who are not responsible and aren't able to handle firearms properly.
Knives aren't illegal in any country. However, people don't carry knives around when they go out. When people get into an argument with each other, they don't have knives readily available to knife each other.
This is very different from US. Many people own guns. Many people bring guns out. When they are not happy, get into an argument, it's very common for people to just whip out their guns and "bang bang".
There are reports everyday of someone shooting someone just from a simple argument.
Freedom of speech...
Goes hand in hand with freedom to be stupid.
People can say any stupid things and get away with it.
Hateful things, stupid things, lies, whatever.
Legal system...
The US justice system is screwed up. With the right lawyers, it's possible to find sufficient loopholes in the law to get away with many crimes. The legal process is long drawn out and with money one can stay out of prison for very long. OR hinder the process.
There are many other examples.
Many of these ideals start from a good place.
But most of the time, the idea has been so corrupted that the current application of the idea is so far off from the intended.
America is so called the "Land of the Free". "Greatest Country in the World"
HUH? There's so many other countries whereby you're free and have similar rights.
If you want to live in a country where you can live, work, earn money, have kids, grow old, feel safe, start a business, own property, etc...
There's a whole load of countries which have such freedoms.
Heck, even the Netherlands allow certain recreational drugs whereas America has laws on them.
So who's more free?
A black person has significantly less freedoms in America than a white person.
Is this freedom? Even though the law says that they are equal, but blacks face significantly more racism in US than in many other countries.
Many Americans haven't left America before. They only know what the media tells them. Their environment has always been in the US. Their worldview is only America. I've written about this. Your Perception is Based on What You're Exposed to. Since they haven't been exposed to many countries, they haven't lived in many countries, they think their country is unique.
When in actuality, many of their ideals can be found in many other countries.
And many countries are way better off then America.
I don't know about Americans.
But really...
I appreciate having the freedom to walk around at night safely.
I appreciate having short term laws to require masks so that the overall society can remain healthy.
I appreciate having low cost medical which is affordable with insurance. Seriously, you think SG medical is expensive. You haven't seen anything yet. I wrote about SG healthcare costs here.
I appreciate that there is minimal work place sexual harassment, sexism, discrimination.
Many other things...
Now, of course there's many other issues in SG or other countries.
It's easy to look at the big picture problems and start getting annoyed or upset with the Government.
And yet, many big picture problems don't affect individuals. Or affect them minimally.
Like what I said about climate change, protests and freedom of speech, stuff like that, from an academic point of view, they are important, but as an individual, as long as I can work, earn, save, live my life... hey life really isn't that bad.
Americans... They don't know what they are missing.
Having all these "freedoms", and yet not being able to walk outside at night and feel safe, or the inability to handle a healthcare crisis, or black people not being able to trust police cos they might be killed by police even though they are the ones who requested for help...
They really don't know what they are talking about.
They think their country is great cos that's the only country they've lived in.
Their sample size is ONE...
So... thing is... after coming here... reading, watching...
America really doesn't have much of a selling point.
If you're a business entity, yes, definitely you'd want to set up and sell to Americans, cos they are the biggest consumer.
But if you're just an individual looking for a place to stay and live a life...
Then there's dozens of other developed countries which are probably better than America.
“None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they are free.”
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I would say that America isn't truly democratic.
People think they are in a democracy. They can vote, but they have 2 choices, Democrats or Republicans.
BUT yet, both parties aren't really good.
And both parties are owned by big businesses.
So who is really "governing" the country? Money? It's money politics.
If both parties are taking money from big businesses, then do they really have democracy?
The population doesn't have any other party to vote for. Their real options are... Money or money.
Yep they have lots of freedom of speech and expression.
They can talk all they want. But in the end, what's the difference?
You can talk about democracy, but if you don't have it.
Or they think they have it, but actually don't have it. Then... what's the point?
America has the First Amendment and Second Amendment.
First Amendment is the right to freedom, all kinds or freedoms, including freedom of speech.
Second Amendment is the right to bear arms.
So the idea is, the First Amendment is your right to freedom and the Second Amendment is the power to defend your freedoms.
And many Americans love this "idea" that they have been sold.
Now, of course, everyone loves different things.
Determining which country is the "best/greatest" country. Is like debating which is the best pasta sauce.
There is no such thing. Everyone likes something different.
I agree that freedom of speech is important. I've written about that before.
I also agree that people should have the ability to bear arms, cos the people need the power to rise up against a tyrannical government. Unfortunately, many people cannot handle the responsibility of owning weapons.
And yet, I also appreciate the stability and safety in my home country.
One is a beautiful idea of freedom and ideals. The reality doesn't truly need to be real.
The other is a reality of a safe and stable life.
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