by Bruno Korschek

Created on: July 04, 2010   Last Updated: July 05, 2010

Hillary Clinton recently gave a speech on freedom during her current tour through Europe. She was lamenting the fact that in many countries, the opportunity to live in a free society was being shut down by oppressive governments such as Zimbabwe, the Congo, Ethiopia, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, China and Russia. According to a July 3, 2010 Associated Press article, her speech included the following concepts and quotes:

- In some countries, "the walls are closing in" on unions, religious groups, and other non-government organizations that press for social changes and shine a light on governments' shortcomings.
- She states that "democracies don't fear their own people. They recognize that citizens must be free to come together, to advocate and agitate."
- She felt that some governments are "slowly crushing civil society and the human spirit."
- In a related statement, President Obama declared that he is concerned about "the spread of restrictions on civil society, the growing use of laws to curb rather than enhance freedom and widespread corruption that is undermining the faith of citizens in their governments."

However, before we start criticizing how other countries deal with the concepts of freedom and liberty, maybe Obama, Clinton, and the rest of the American political class should consider how these very concepts are in conflict with what is happening to freedom in America today. Consider their statements above with the reality of what is currently going on in America:

- Obama is worried that corruption will undermine the faith of citizens in their government. Consider corruption in America today:

1) Every year, most members of Congress give away billions of dollars of taxpayer money to special interests who agree to turn around and funnel campaign donations into these same politicians'' re-election campaigns, corrupting our election process.
2) The ex-governor of Illinois is currently on trial, accused of trying to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder. If convicted, he will join a long list of Illinois politicians who are currently in jail or who have already served their sentences for corruption.
3) Who can forget the numerous ex-Congress members who have recently been convicted for taking bribes and other crimes including the one who hid his bribe money in his freezer?
4) Let's not forget Congressman Charles Rangel of New York who is under various investigations for a number of potential financial related violations.
5) If not paying taxes is a form

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