Thread: Are We Incrementally Losing Our Freedom?

Can anyone who presently bemoans the "loss" of their "freedom" as a result of this altogether mild attempt at correcting some of the more gross excesses of the for-profit healthcare industry please explain to me just which "freedoms" they think they've "lost?"

I would sincerely appreciate it, since, while I keep hearing the claim, I keep NOT hearing any specifics.

Has freedom of speech been impinged? The current plague of violent, eliminationist, right-wing rhetoric and overt violence seems to indicate otherwise.

Has freedom of religion been impinged? The din coming from some pulpits seems to indcate otherwise.

Has the freedom of the press been impinged? Save for the fact that the "press" is now owned by a small cadre of right-leaning corporations, the presence of masssive right-wing reportage about their freedoms being "lost" seems to indicate otherwise.

Has the right to keep and bear arms so as to be a part of a well-regulated militia been impinged? The massive increase in gun sales in the last year seems to indicate otherwise.

Has the freedom to contract been impinged? Even with the new law, the only place you can get insurance is still in the for-profit "free" market and the fact that the ForProfit insurance companies are still selling policies (except to the people they dump) seems to indicate otherwise.

Has the Right Against Self-Incrimination been impinged? The fact that officers are still reading rights to arrestees seems to indicate otherwise.

Has the right to a speedy trial been impinged? With the exception of certain Muslims, the fact that we hold criminal trials every day seems to indicate otherwise.

Has the right to a jury trial been impinged? Again, with the exception of those afore-mentioned Muslims, the fact that we're empaneling juries every day seems to indicate otherwise.

Has the right to be secure in one's person, papers and effects been impinged? With the exception that the last shredded tatters of the Fourth Amendment were taken out behind the barn and bludgeoned to death nine years ago (and having NOTHING to do with "healthcare reform;" and about which the right-wing remains silent and will continue to remain silent until they can find a way to blame that brown man who's in OUR WHITE House for it), the facts seem to indicate otherwise.

Has Habeas Corpus been impinged? Well, yes, it has, but that happened during the last administration and had NOTHING to do with the modest attempt to reign-in predatory corporate health insurer practices. Still, you'll never hear any of the current crop of bemoaners talking about that. They were silent as the grave when it happened, and they'll remain silent yet, unless they can figure out a way to blame that brown man in OUR WHITE House for it.

While this list of rights is not exhaustive, it is fairly comprehensive.

Just what "Freedom" is it that Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, John Boehner et al. are screaming about that's been lost? Did our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan suddenly throw down their arms, surrender and start bowing and scraping in the direction of Makkah when word got out that the bill's law now? Did I miss something?

I'm asking sincerely. It's one thing to say you've lost something (sorta like saying "the dog ate my homework") but it's entirely ANOTHER thing to prove it.

I've been waiting for some sort of proof for months now, but while there's been an embarrassment of riches of squealing, bellowing and hollering, actual proof has been as rare as hen's teeth.