I've been reading again - stand back!

Since the two work against each other, which is more important to you, freedom or equality?

The American revolution was all about freedom, of course. But the founding fathers would roll over in their graves if they could see how the government restricts freedom now. (Can you imagine telling George Washington that he couldn't travel with a pen knife, or say certain words, or park his carriage on the road?)

Modern America is much more concerned with promoting equality - equal opportunity and  redistribution of wealth. Voting rights, welfare, housing, retirements and health care for everyone.

I think even most of us here on this board give mere lip service to the concept of freedom. I mean, how could you say you're against freedom, right? And yet there are constant threads howling for sanctions against people who have abortions, or don't subscribe to Christian doctrine, or aren't heterosexual. Even people who just don't mow their lawn "properly". Most people want freedom for themselves, but not for those who disagree with them. And if actions speak louder than words, most people are in truth more interested in equality - usually in the form of redistributing wealth.

ETA My next question: The poll almost unanimously favors freedom. So why are the politicians we elect leading us in the opposite direction?

With freedom there is equality.

ibtp

Freedom or equality?


I'll take freedom.

Our founding fathers chose freedom.  It's one of the fundamental principles of conservative thought.

Quoted: With freedom there is equality.

?

With freedom, whoever works the hardest and/or gets the luckiest gets "more equal".

Pure equality is what Communism was all about.

Freedom.

and equality of opportunity, not equality of results

Quoted: Quoted: With freedom there is equality. ? With freedom, whoever works the hardest and/or gets the luckiest gets "more equal". Pure equality is what Communism was all about.

There is equality in choice, which is part of freedom.  Then there is equality in result, which is the what communism strives for.

This is an issue of semantics. The liberals call murdering babies “choice” the conservatives call it “murder”. The liberals say they want “equality” but they really want “your money”.

The founding fathers used the word “equal” to describe the implementation of law among “the people”, another word the liberals seem to have problems with. “The people” referred to in the Constitution are individuals and when this word is used by liberals, they’re referring to the “state”.

Just give us the “freedom” to keep these jerks out of public office!

Quoted: Freedom. and equality of opportunity, not equality of results

absolutely correct.  Milton and Rose Friedman wrote an interesting article regarding equality and freedom.  Equality of opportunity and equality of outcome are two completely different things.  

Quoted: Quoted: With freedom there is equality. ? With freedom, whoever works the hardest and/or gets the luckiest gets "more equal". Pure equality is what Communism was all about.

You are confusing "equality" and sameness.

Freedom by definition is equality... even thought the outcome may not be the same.

The goal of the left is for sameness… or dragging everyone (but themselves) down to the SAME level.  Equality and sameness are not equal.