A Canadian Perspective On Freedom

Freedom is one of the most abused words in the English language.  The Heritage Foundation ranks Hong Kong as the most free nation in the world.  Sweden is regarded as one of the least free countries in the world.  There seems to be little difference, however, between the perceptions that people have about their personal freedom.  The survey reported in this article shows that American's do not have a stronger perception of personal freedom than individuals in other countries.  Freedom, as defined by the Heritage Foundation, is the freedom of business from government regulation.  Perhaps that is why America has  lower social mobility than the nations praised by the Heritage Foundation.  Americans are free to remain in the economic class to which they were born.  The Heritage Foundation works hard to preserve that freedom.  Those who fund Heritage with tax deductible donations are all for that kind of freedom.  It is important to perpetuate a myth of freedom that keeps others in their place.