[thdrdt]

What if you are under a regime without healthcare, loads of homeless people, extreme border patrol and police, and all you hear is that it's the land of opportunities where you can make it?

The above might sound unfair but think about it. I believe there is propaganda in almost every country.

And when oil is gone there will be something else. Probably Artificial Intelligence. Also check out a current trending item in HN about the US limiting the export of AI.

[alamaslah]

"the land of opportunities where you can make it"

The above is old propaganda. It was true. It is becoming less and less true.

The things you listed are all connected.

[Dinux]

Yes, but to a broader perspective the western world has at least 'some' degree of freedom. The same cannot be said for many parts of the world including much of the middle east

[thdrdt]

In the western world 'debt' is also promoted as freedom. So it's all about your definition of what freedom is.

My personal definition of freedom is 'free of debt'

[TheOtherHobbes]

Freedom is basically capital, because the US is a plutocracy. You're either lucky enough to inherit economic freedom, or you can buy it - if you make enough money to be free of all debt and acquire substantial capital.

The opportunities to do this are strictly limited and anyone starting cold is against very tough odds. And the activities that are rewarded are strongly biased towards rent-seeking and monopolistic market exploitation over less aggressively self-serving provision of goods and services.

Obviously it's not impossible. But if you want true economic freedom, your personal and professional choices are - ironically - very tightly constrained.

[mensetmanusman]

You are a billionaire or in prison in the US?