>What is this Open Society you keep mentioning? (honest question)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_society

The open society is a concept originally developed by philosopher Henri Bergson. In open societies, government is responsive and tolerant, and political mechanisms are transparent and flexible. The state keeps no secrets from itself in the public sense; it is a non-authoritarian society in which all are trusted with the knowledge of all. Political freedoms and human rights are the foundation of an open society.

In Karl Popper's definition, found in his two-volume book The Open Society and Its Enemies, he defines an "open society" as one which ensures that political leaders can be overthrown without the need for bloodshed, as opposed to a "closed society", in which a bloody revolution or coup d'état is needed to change the leaders. He further describes an open society as one "in which individuals are confronted with personal decisions" as opposed to a "magical or tribal or collectivist society".[1] In this context, tribalistic and collectivist societies do not distinguish between natural laws and social customs. Individuals are unlikely to challenge traditions they believe to have a sacred or magical basis. The beginnings of an open society are thus marked by a distinction between natural and man-made law, and an increase in personal responsibility and accountability for moral choices. (Note that Popper did not see this as incompatible with religious belief.[2]) Popper argues that the ideas of individuality, criticism, and humanitarianism cannot be suppressed once people become aware of them, and therefore that it is impossible to return to the closed society. [3]

Basically, a society where we have some choice over what our profession is, how our government works, and basically a lot of control of our own lives.

I'm sure we can all think of reasons why we can't be exactly what we want, or how the government has some control over us, but I think realistically, the Open Society should be compared to societies that are more and more becoming a thing of the past, where you're born into a cast, a profession, arranged marraiges, your political views and participation are set for you, and your chance for equality in the eyes of the law is dismal.