[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).

[Sunnyflorida]

"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'

I have been thinking about this for a while. My observation is that business thrives where the trend is to more business freedom. It is not the absolute level of business freedom but the prospect of things opening up. Most business people look to the future, not the present or past. Business is too hard to just do it for the here and now.