[grania]

I believe in economic freedom as well as political freedom.

I agree with you, and wonder if there is such a thing as political freedom without economic freedom.

Look around us. As people lose their economic freedom, they lose the imagination necessary to elect anything beyond the norm, which is two parties that support the same policies. And these would be the policies that take decision-making away from us, in all aspects of our lives.

(Gosh, this is an interesting and stimulating thread...just like in the old days)

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

My have a point, but I would say that people in socialist countries like Sweden (to a certain extent Germany, France, etc.) do have political freedom. However, their economic freedom is severely constrained, which reduces their options in the way of political freedom. If I want to start a business in some of these countries, the red tape and costs are so prohibitive that it is not possible (where it would be in the US).