One of the primary conceits of Americans is the notion that they are free. They believe they are free to say what they want, do what they want, and live the way they want. Unlike their forefathers, who rebelled against a king, or people in the Third World, who groan under the boot of an unelected autocrat, Americans today think they can rest easy in the knowledge that they live in a nation of abundant freedoms and unmatched prosperity.
Except this isn’t quite true. Most people really aren’t free to do, say, or live the way they want. Their employers determine the real extent of their freedoms; or their service providers, vendors, bankers, or the army of lawyers and legislators who regulate all economic activity. The dream job, dream home, or any variation of the American dream remains just that for most people—just a dream. People today are forced to live within their limited means and to think within the limited boundaries of politically correct speech.
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