I'm becoming one of those people you are describing here, but I'd like to keep my mind open to the possibility that I'm wrong, so I keep on reading.
My impression is that you are somewhat exaggerating a valid point and that there exaggeration may not work in your favor, theoretically speaking. But that's a whole other issue.
I guess the important question here is - what freedoms do we no longer have. Because if it is - as you say - that people won't say that it's a free country because they know it's not true, rather than it becoming a cliche for example.
well sure, freedom means no need for permission. Can you name an act that makes you more free, more self sufficient in which you do not need a license or some form of government approval before doing so?
Can't really think of anything like that.. How about you?
Nope. that's why I wrote this.
Doesn't it make our societies very free indeed? If we both can't think of anything that we want but are not allowed to..
no, what I mean is anything that you would like to do that would increase your personal liberty you need permission first. I can't think of anything I dont need permission for that increases my liberty.
Oh, alright. What I intended to ask was for an example of something you want that you are obligated to ask for permission.
Like how people needed special governmental permission to travel abroad in the 60-70-80's in the USSR.