>>>>>Well, if you can tell me any "freedom" which you have and we don't, I will throw in 2 "freedoms" we have and you don't for each you povide.
>>>>
>>>>I am not fluent in Norwegian culture, but could you list some freedoms you have that we don't?
>>>
>>>Hmmmm, freedom of independed press, is one that comes to mind.
>>>
>>>Not sure about norway, but some others.
>>>
>>>- Freedom of getting an abortion
>>>- Freedom of getting euthnesia
>>>- Freedom of using soft drugs
>>>- Freedom of getting a beer in a bar at age 16. Stronger alcohols at age 18.
>>>- Freedom of working as a prostitute
>>>
>>>Appart form the list above it has to be notes that "Freedom" is experienced in different ways. Search on google on "The european dream" by jeremy rifkin. He has a good explanation of the different perceptions of the word freedom.
>>>
>>>
>>>Walter,
>>freedom from being found guilty of something (you may or may not have done) and executed. Thats a pretty big one.
>>
>>And a minor one.
>>
>>You can (I assume this is the case also in Holland) cross the road wherever you like. Unlike in the US where you can end up arrested
>>
>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6251431.stm
>>
>
>I suspect it is rare to get a ticket for jaywalking, much less thrown to the ground and arrested.

I agree. But why the hell do we have so many laws that are only enforced on the whim of the enforcing authority??? What that essentially does is make everyone vulnerable to tons of innocuous misdemeanors which in fact make the authorities' job easy when they decide they gotta get ya.
I've always understood the phrase "threw the book at him" to mean that any 'law' that might be remotely be applicable was in fact charged, to help assure holding to 'criminal'.
Why don't we all get the book thrown at us when we make some transgression? As it is now it ONLY assists the enforcing authorities and does NO BENEFIT to the general public whatsoever.