This week's Hive account@ecotrain #questionoftheweek is "Bearing in mind the health and state of our western culture and society today, do you think we have too much freedom?"

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I'm normally an optimistic person. I like to see the good in people and celebrate all that is good on this planet.
However I am also a realist and my answer to this week's question of the week is my truth. How I also see the world. For when we take off the rose tinted glasses it will better equip us to learn, understand and help to make this world a better place for all.

We are led to believe in the western world we are free. That we can exercise our rights, say what we like, go where we want and generally have what we want.

We are taught this by being shown what others don't have, which is not freedom. We are taught this by social conditioning in the form of TV, news, pop culture and pop music. It's no different than a bully. It's emotional abuse at its worse. We are conditioned to make us 'fit' in with society.
We can't even travel to another country without being scanned, questioned and searched. Our basic human rights violated in the name of freedom. "It's for your protection".
From the moment we are born our parents sign that all important paper. Our birth certificate. The all important document that gives us the 'right' to work.(See this is how they manipulate us into feeling special. Grooming at its finest)
We are taught that Western Culture is far superior to other cultures, that this is the shining example that all others should follow. Sadly it is wrong and sadly many countries have started to mimic the 'so-called' western culture. Forgoing their own culture for a chunk of 'the dream.

But why? Money? Greed?

My partner and I have many discussions on how the Western World is one giant corporation. We are not free because we have allowed ourselves to become enslaved by it. Many people do not even realize they are not free.
Money controls every aspect of our lives from birth to health to basic living needs. All these things that should be free are sold to us. If we have any money left over then we are enticed by fancy objects and things to improve our outward appearance. We are manipulated into believing these things embody what a truly free society stands for. When in reality, all it would do if we stopped buying into the system would lower the profit that lines some large corporation's pockets. No actually not pocket, gigantic vault of freedom. Those with the largest amount of money have the best health, best clothing, best houses... you get my drift.

But with all this there is a huge price to pay. Every day we sacrifice who we truly are to fit in with the society we are born into. Now I'm not saying this is everyone, nor am I judging those who do enjoy being part of mainstream life.
My concern with this is that so many of aren't happy.
If we were truly free, those that wanted to leave the particular society where they are unhappy, would be able to do so without any problems.

My second point is that in a way we have too much 'spare time' that has created boredom. From which many great inventions and books, music have all been created. But for most of us the fact that everything is done for us, not only takes away our freedom. It was designed to give us more time to earn them money. Not for our enjoyment. Children are left bored and roaming the streets, without guidance or something to help them create. Like in the book, Lord of the Flies, gangs of children supposedly causing chaos and mayhem and getting tagged or in trouble with the police. When in reality they are creating from their boredom with the little knowledge that they have and lack of guidance that comes with it.
We are expected to leave our children to be babysat by government agencies aka schools whilst we slave away at our jobs that we need in order to pay for the food we eat, the house we live in but a hardly ever there to enjoy, and the car we need in order to get to the job that just about covers the cost of all this. Not Only that we are paying governments to be able to live in our houses. To have our car on the road. All in the form of taxes. So that they can justify the expenditure of giving some 'Freedom' to another, 'less civilised' country all in the name of the greater good of mankind! (Yes that is sarcasm in my tone here). Nothing to do with their hidden agendas and corporate interests.
As The Free Thought Project so aptly puts it in this meme:

Many social media channels have made us showcase childish pranks turning them into viral sensations and then a mass hysteria starts as everyone copies trying to out-do the other person. We are not taught to think anymore simply taught what to think. We are becoming repetitive robots. We are moulded and expected to conform and should we deviate and say something a little different, challenging the status quo we are shut down. Branded insane, made an example of or imprisoned for crimes that really shouldn't be considered crimes. Our children are being taken away from us if we don't lead conventional mainstream lives or we are made to live in fear of this happening.
We can have our freedom, as long as it we don't do this or don't do that. Freedom comes with conditions, with restrictions.

This is not Freedom that we have in western society. We are controlled and suffer from a form of Stockholm syndrome. It is brainwashing and conformation at work here.

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If we were truly free we would be able to say what we feel, challenge the status quo without fear of being hung drawn and quartered. Because in a free society everyone can freely voice their concerns and opinions and a discussion can be had to find the best possible outcome with compromise.
If we were truly free our basic needs such as housing and food and clothing would be met because there would be no discrimination between a 10 dollar sweatshirt or a 500 dollar sweatshirt. Clothing would be affordable. Housing would be affordable. Good quality food would be abundant.
In a truly free society, people would not want to hurt or cause harm to one another. With basic needs being met, there would be no hatred or envy or even jealousy. At least, people would be better equipped to understand their emotions which would prevent negative ones manifesting and protecting onto others.
In a truly free society our younger generations would be included in the current state of affairs and encouraged to think of ways to improve society.
If we were truly free we wouldn't need to find things to help us to be truly happy. We simply would be happier and kinder to others. If we didn't live against our natural way to be connected to everyone instead of disconnected, we could possibly be so free that we would never even be having this discussion in the first place.
A truly free society holds no place for greed or exploitation. A truly free society would care about the well being of everyone living within it and respect the differences of other cultures. Honouring them as they would honor ours. Each individual person would be free to make their own decisions and choices.
Nature would be respected and all living organisms on this planet shown the same level of respect that they rightfully deserve.

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I may be dreaming here. We may not always be able to agree on everything. We all have different perspectives but we can and we should learn how to respect those differences. Only then can we truly be free.