Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
Sep 30th 2016, 7:16 pm
#47
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
I haven't been asked those questions in maybe 10 years now when crossing by land.
They did ask all those when I first moved to Canada, but with time they seem to figure out you live in Canada and questions become nearly non existent.
I am still surprised how little the US officers ask me.
My wife is asked a couple extra questions, but she holds no status in the US.
Now CBSA they are pretty consistent with asking questions after question then asking the same question again to see if you give the same answer.
They did ask all those when I first moved to Canada, but with time they seem to figure out you live in Canada and questions become nearly non existent.
I am still surprised how little the US officers ask me.
My wife is asked a couple extra questions, but she holds no status in the US.
Now CBSA they are pretty consistent with asking questions after question then asking the same question again to see if you give the same answer.
Last edited by scrubbedexpat091; Sep 30th 2016 at 7:20 pm.
Sep 30th 2016, 7:39 pm
#48
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,391
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
I doubt if any Americans actually believe it either. Isn't it just a rote saying, like religious people mumbling their various nostrums? Unfortunately, candidates are forced to wheel out this patriotic claptrap in election season, it's part of the whole dog and pony show.
Oct 1st 2016, 9:13 am
#49
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
I'll be the one to throw religion into the mix...
I have had a couple of jibs over years, comments about religious freedom, thrown at me... then when gold dollar coins became a lot more common, there was a post going around on Facebook about it lacking the 'in God we trust' inscription (incorrect). I had multiple customers hand them back, because of their lack of wording, along with a lecture about Christianity.
Years ago when we listed our old house for sale, I asked our realtor about doing a open house on a Sunday... he told me he would 'be OK with that' because we lived in GR and then went on to tell me that in his neighborhood in Hudsonville MI it is frowned upon to mow your lawn etc on Sunday. Even being raised in a catholic family in England I never remember being that oppressed by religion!
I have had a couple of jibs over years, comments about religious freedom, thrown at me... then when gold dollar coins became a lot more common, there was a post going around on Facebook about it lacking the 'in God we trust' inscription (incorrect). I had multiple customers hand them back, because of their lack of wording, along with a lecture about Christianity.
Years ago when we listed our old house for sale, I asked our realtor about doing a open house on a Sunday... he told me he would 'be OK with that' because we lived in GR and then went on to tell me that in his neighborhood in Hudsonville MI it is frowned upon to mow your lawn etc on Sunday. Even being raised in a catholic family in England I never remember being that oppressed by religion!
Oct 3rd 2016, 4:51 am
#50
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
Posts: 7,425
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
Thought this article in the Guardian recently gave an interesting perspective on freedoms in the US
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...ality-activist
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...ality-activist
Oct 7th 2016, 1:43 pm
#51
Banned
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,154
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
Up until earlier this year I would have said I felt no difference. After my daughters run in with the police earlier this year though I would definitely say less. I can't imagine what happened here happening in the UK, and it's changed all our viewpoints on supposedly living in a 'free' country.
It's all down to this obscene love of all things military (state assassins essentially) and this trickles down into loving their Police.
The US definitely has more leeway in terms of free speech and gun ownership, but being free starts with being able to live in a society without risk of being shot in my book.
The US is a broken, awful, society and I ****ing hate it for the most part.
Oct 7th 2016, 1:49 pm
#52
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Joined: Feb 2011
Location: WA state
Posts: 3,062
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
It's my favourite of the contradictory conservative viewpoints now* - hate big government but love the police and military who enforce their laws.
*It used to be "Get the government out of our lives, except when it comes to gay people."
*It used to be "Get the government out of our lives, except when it comes to gay people."
Oct 7th 2016, 2:03 pm
#53
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: CT
Posts: 33,505
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
Oct 7th 2016, 3:19 pm
#56
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Joined: Nov 2011
Location: Was Virginia, now Yorkshire.
Posts: 2,333
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
I thought it was "conservatives want to shrink government so it can fit in your bedroom" or even "...so it can fit in your vagina" depending on whether it's gay rights or abortion that is the topic in hand.
Oct 7th 2016, 4:15 pm
#57
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2012
Location: Nebraska by the Sea
Posts: 987
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
Less than 48 months to go. I treat being here as if I was working a mercenary contract in some god forsaken hell hole like the Middle East or Uganda. Does that answer the original question?
Oct 7th 2016, 5:19 pm
#58
Horrid Yank
Joined: Dec 2014
Location: Tierra del Encanto
Posts: 712
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
Women may go topless in New York City if they please. How is that not a freedom enhancement?
New York Nudity Laws - Topless Women NYC
New York Nudity Laws - Topless Women NYC
Oct 7th 2016, 5:25 pm
#59
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
Women may go topless in New York City if they please. How is that not a freedom enhancement?
New York Nudity Laws - Topless Women NYC
New York Nudity Laws - Topless Women NYC
Oct 7th 2016, 5:28 pm
#60
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
Posts: 7,425
Re: Do you consider yourself to be living in a free'er country with more freedom?
That only happens in Portland, it's find as long as it's not aroused apparently. Especially when dealing with TSA agents.