How come you Americans are so sensitive when it is about freedom? In a truly and omnipresent free environment (that is, in an anarchistic environment) not many of us would have survived this long. Perhaps even more important than freedom is civilization. I prefer to live in a civilized world over a completely free world.

Because this nation was FOUNDED on the idea of individual rights - it is the first nation in the world that embodies the Renaissance period, the age of Enlightenment, individual liberties, Aristotelian logic that holds man as an end to himself....it is the nation that has forged ahead of other nations in a vast number of endeavors.....and this is no coincidence. This nation is in part the reason why you enjoy the standard of living that you do.

Note: please understand that I don't think this makes American citizens any "better" than anyone....but it DOES make our nation the greatest nation on earth.

True freedom is not anarchy - you still have a govt in a free society, where the only proper role is protecting citizens (and I'll make room for certain public works).