[BlitzGeology91]

> This is a very "american" definition of freedom, which is basically, just let me do what I want.

Eh. I see what you’re saying about gun control, but the idea that “some restrictions can lead to actually more freedom, while some permissions can actually decrease freedom” is actually very American.

The free software movement says that everyone deserves software freedom. The Declaration of Independence similarly says “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” While I haven’t found a source confirming it, I think that the founders believed that the freedom of speech was one of these unalienable rights.

The GPL puts restrictions in place to make sure that downstream projects give users software freedom. The Constitution put restrictions in place to ensure that the federal (and nowadays the entire) government doesn’t interfere with our unalienable rights.

Take a look at how the first amendment is worded:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The first amendment does not grant the freedom of speech because it doesn’t need to be granted. From the founders’ perspective, god already grants the freedom of speech to everyone forever. The key phrase here is “Congress shall make no law”. The first amendment is restricting Congress to ensure freedom.

The idea that “some permissions can actually decrease freedom” is also present in the Constitution. For example, take a look at Article I sections 8 and 9. The framers of the Constitution could have given Congress the power to pass any law. Instead, they chose to specifically enumerate what Congress can and cannot do.

Perhaps, though, most Americans don’t know much about our founding and think that freedom=just let me do what I want. I don’t know.

[elcomet]

Thanks to put things in context, that was quite interesting!