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...from the moment the Declaration of Independence was signed to the moment you eat your turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day 2001, Americans have become more, not less free. Maybe not on a month-to-month basis but the trendline is undeniable. The emancipation of the slaves...

If a slave is defined as a person who has no right to 100% of the fruits of his/her labor, then what do we call a person who has no right to 50%? An average American citizen.

Undeniable trendline? Here's a trendline for you, Jonah.

Tax Freedom Day: 1964 to 1998

Note: Tax Freedom Day denotes the number of days that the average American must work each year to pay their share of federal, state, and local taxes. (Source: The Tax Foundation.)

Freedom is not simply the absence of a black-garbed stormtrooper on every street corner; what of the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property? We are birds living in a gilded cage, plucked at our master's discretion.

As for the vaunted mobility that Jonah claims as synonymous with freedom, it does nothing to relieve the burden of the state on the individual. Americans, unlike citizens of all but a very small handful of countries worldwide, are taxed on their worldwide income regardless of where they live. Should an American citizen seek to escape this by becoming a naturalized citizen of another country, the IRS may, at its discretion, continue to tax the ex-citizen's US-based assets for ten years after he/she gives up US citizenship! This is freedom??? < /rant >

Hey ... since you bring up taxes (great post!) ... I think a tax riff on my last post's in order ... =)

American Help Russian Taxmen

OPEN UP WIDE, RUSSIA!

We're shoveling in MORE American-style freedom (at our own taxpayer expense, of course) in the hopes Russia one day will obligate itself to the same WTO who so consistently makes concessions to them and China in hopes they'll join the Uncle SAM'S CLUB co-opt.

In particular, if the [Jackson Vanick Amendment] is dropped, Russia will have the chance to upgrade military production technology and to help the newly established financial intelligence agency hunt for outrageous tax evaders.

I agree with your point about taxes 1000%. In a financial sense we are virtually slaves to the State. But there are other aspects of freedom. Freedom for terrorists to scurry across our borders. Freedom for terrorists to communicate freely without the FBI being able to monitor their emails, etc. Those are the sorts of freedoms that will be reduced a bit in order to keep this country from being reduced to 3rd world status.

"As for the vaunted mobility that Jonah claims as synonymous with freedom, it does nothing to relieve the burden of the state on the individual."

Mobility: You should have seen the witch burners roasting the family who chose to live in a mobile home and utilize the library internet connection to run a web site.

Burden: No matter what we own out right, it will be taken away if we don't meet the base level of support for our society ... even if you own a house, it will no longer be yours if do not pay property taxes.