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[abraham90]

Sartre said "Freedom is what you do to others, what's been done to you".Janis said "Freedom is what you have, when you have nothing left to lose".What's your definition? Is it an original one or borrowed from the books? If borrowed, please quote original source.

[stilleman]

I am conditioned to believe that capitalism is the best way to produce wealth. So much rhetoric gets thrown around on this site that I think it?s time to define our terms. I?m looking for a definition of ?freedom.? Keeping in mind that it has changed over time and that its currency ?as a viable word- has suffered of late from being screamed by those who always think that their personal freedom is continually threatened by every new idea that comes along in answer to society?s problems.Abraham Lincoln once posited an analogy for the problems of defining freedom, or liberty. In it he describes a herd of sheep as thankful to the shepherd for being ?liberated? from the predations of the wolf. The wolf however criticizes the shepherd for encroaching on his freedom to hunt. ?Plainly the sheep and the wolf are not agreed upon a definition of the word liberty,? said Lincoln, ?and precisely the same difference prevails today among human creatures.?Once such a conflict would have led to immediate violence. Nowadays it creates an opportunity for deception. ?Trust me,? says the wolf to the sheep, ?the shepherd is only protecting you for his own ends. You know that you will get shorn before long. But I already have a fine coat of my own. I have no need of your wool.?Now as an American I am conditioned to believe that capitalism is the best way to produce wealth. But as a progressive(leftist, socialist, collectivist? whatever name someone wants to call me) I also believe that unfettered capitalism often leads to disasters of the kind through which we now struggle. When capitalists turn into predators it is the duty of government to stand between the predator and his prey, middle and working class Americans that always seems to suffer the greatest harm. Certainly paying taxes to the government Shepard wasn?t nearly so uncomfortable as the debacle of being butchered by the wolves of Wall Street, all because the Shepard, at the time, was out to lunch. Sources: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978102965 newuser66535667 46 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.