“Is any man free except the one who can pass his life as he pleases? [Lat., An quisquam est alius liber, nisi ducere vitam Cui licet, ut voluit?]”

Yes, I am that I am; I am free, though life is not passing completely as I would please. Certain of man's inhumanity to man restricts my joyful inalienable right expressions at law and justice. It would please me that all men be free without the tyranny of compelled compliance, license, victimless crimes, and larceny with impunity

In the big picture, no we are not. Then ya look at it, is is better to be all the way free, and live off the land, great when ur young, but when old? Yes, I'm free, my chains are mental. yall think about that. Ive created my own prsion. Money, some say is freedom, from a man who has done it all. In the end, all is vanity.

Sorry for the spelling. I was free, when i was young, now, with my mind full, no, im a prsioner to my knowledge. my past, my present. But to the fed, dam you. Your laws that destroy human spirit. And mike, from Norwalk, said the rest, eloquently

Yes and since no one can truly pass their life as they please (at least not without consequences) no one is free. Loughner was free on Saturday morning and passed his life as he pleased for an hour at the Safeway Mall now he is on death row. As far as Palin's pronouncements concerning political rhetoric she is right, political rhetoric does not kill people. Hitler never killed anyone and he did not break a single window during Kristal Nacht (that is Crystal Night).

We are all born free, a product of God or nature. That lasts less than 24 hours before you are issued an inventory number, or birth certificate. Then in order to work and feed yourself you must apply for an SS no. and by doing so declare yourself a taxable corporation to be fleeced for life. "Free" my ass!

Right on, J Carlton.

Thought-provoking. Are we free from needing food to eat and air to breathe? Are we free to act without consequence? Are we free to take from others as it pleases us? Thoreau comes to mind: 'That man is happiest whose pleasures are cheap.' While freedom may be relative, perhaps it is better understood with regard to whether one is forced to live as others please.