[dragon wench]

It's an oft-used word. Many of us bandy it about without really thinking. In the US, it is a particularly loaded term.

But how do *you* really define freedom? Is it the ability to feel you can practice your political and religious beliefs without fear of repression? Is it being able to fill basic needs such as adequate shelter, food and clothing? Is it the option of traveling wherever you want whenever you want? Is it the opportunity to pursue any education and/or career path you so choose? Is it being free of debt or obligation? Is it the right to individual will and self-determination? Is it complete freedom from poverty, or at the other extreme, is it the right to make as much money as possible regardless of who is trampled in the process?

Or maybe it's a combination of things. If so, which do you consider to be most important?

And where does the role of government fit into the equation? Sometimes government protects freedoms, sometimes it limits or prohibits them.



I'm still thinking about this myself, so I'll write up my own reply to all of that a bit later.