Category Archives: Freedom

Every functioning system needs regular corrections. Otherwise, it accumulates undesirable tendencies. This applies to the largest democracy, which is often praised for conducting free and fair elections. It is high time we asked whether we have imbibed the democratic spirit and if we exercise it without fear or favour.

Democracy is quintessentially about freedom. Rosa Luxemburg famously opined that real freedom is the freedom to disagree. In a functional sense, democracy means discussion, debate and dissent. But in India, these are fast disappearing. There is a deliberative deficit. Public space is shrinking. There are only some spaces provided by political parties wherein discussions are directed and controlled. It is a give and take exercise, leaders give and cadres take but not in the sense we are familiar with. Structurally, democracy must mean equality; but equality is possible only in a non-hierarchical situation.

In Indias case, inequality is the very base of our culture, an unquestioning acceptance of a culture of inequality. Democracy is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end that should be socially defined and determined. For instance, development, in a democratic sense, must be inclusive, equitable and sustainable. People should be the primary agents in the formulation, implementation, overseeing and evaluation of programmes and projects. In the dirigiste era, people were regarded only as the objects of development. Development occurred intransitively: Roads were constructed for them and houses were built for them.

There is no gainsaying that India has an accommodative democracy. It accommodates socio-economic inequalities, regional and sectoral imbalances, and what not?

Under the much-acclaimed democratic decentralisation, what really happened was the devolution of certain centrally determined functions, responsibilities and resources to lower tiers of administration, without changing the power structures social, economic, political, and religious.

Power , whether at the national, regional, local, corporate or family level, always tends towards centralisation. In this sense, power cannot be decentralised. In other words, centralisation of power is not the problem and its decentralisation is not the solution. Power itself is the problem, as it is always used by the powerful against the powerless, by the strong against the weak, by the rich against the poor. History testifies that in a class-divided society, the state, which epitomises power, protects the rich and powerful from or against the poor and the oppressed. Thus, the state is an instrument of oppression. The more unequal a society, the more authoritarian the state. Ideally, in an egalitarian system, state power has no place. Marx had said that in a classless society, state would wither away. In India, because economic inequalities are egregious and increasing, the state is becoming more and more authoritarian. It is even argued that India is becoming a democracy without freedom. Rulers fear freedom. Always and everywhere, rulers are enemies of freedom.

Leaders are a vanishing species. We have only rulers. We have efficient rulers, efficient administrators, and an efficient police force. Democracy means efficient administration, strengthening and maintaining the status quo, and not changing the system. Stability and continuity are preferred. Questioning inequities invites draconian laws, reminding us of the statement made in the Madras High Court by famous lawyer and human rights activist Kannabiran: Crime is defined by law, but the criminal is determined by the state. Recall how migrant workers were treated in the lockdown last year. Or the incident in 2018 in which a starving Adivasi in Attappadi, Kerala, was beaten to death for stealing some food.

Real democracy is economic democracy, as Ambedkar stressed. A starting point is ensuring economic security to all, not through an income transfer programme (universal basic income), but through the provision of universal property rights. The poor should be treated not as welfare scroungers, but as consumers, active producers, and potential entrepreneurs. This should be ensured by the new economic package being put in place by the Modi government.

MGNREGA allocation must be utilised not for creating wage-employment but for building the asset base of the poor, developing entrepreneurship (business as well as social) among them, building idea/incubation centres and helping undertake production/ business units, individually or on a group basis. Let them pursue and explore the fortunes on the margins, like C K Prahalads exhortation to explore the fortune at the bottom of the pyramid. The founder of Bangladeshs Grameen Bank Muhammad Yunus describes the poor as natural entrepreneurs. Lets treat the underclass not just as wage workers/passive recipients of welfare benefits, but as potential producers. Lets trust them. And build a democracy of freely associated producers.

This column first appeared in the print edition on September 16, 2021 under the title Democracy of producers. The writer is an economist

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Real democratic freedom is impossible without economic equality - The Indian Express

Southwest Airlines' Freedom One made a stop in Milwaukee on Monday.

The aircraft, introduced in June, is a Boeing 737-800 emblazoned with a stylized flag of the United States, complete with 50 stars and 13 stripes just like the American flag.

The plane arrived Sunday from Phoenix and spent the night at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. It took off for the return trip to Phoenix on Monday morning.

The Freedom One is in regular use as part of Southwest's fleet and could show up in Milwaukee or any airport Southwest serves on any given day, depending on where it is assigned to fly.

The plane's appearance in Milwaukeewas creating a bit of a buzz on social media.

Freedom One's livery that's the airline term for the paint scheme on a plane was created in honor of the company's 50th anniversary.

The livery was designed by Eric Daniels, agraphic designer at Dallas-based Southwest.

Typically, about 50 gallons of paint are used to paint an average 737, according to Boeing. Once the paint is dry, it weighs about 250 pounds per airplane.

The airline calls the plane "... a symbol of unwavering pride for our nation and its heroes."

"Southwest revolutionized the travel industry since our very first flight on June 18, 1971, a time when less than 15% of Americans ever had traveled by air," said Gary Kelly, the airline's CEO during an event to unveil the plane."The people of Southwest democratized the skies with friendly, reliable, and affordable air travel..."

Southwest is the dominant air carrier at Milwaukee Mitchell, carrying about half the passenger traffic at the airport.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

Contact Joe Taschler at (414) 224-2554or jtaschler@gannett.com. Followhimon Twitter at @JoeTaschler orFacebook atfacebook.com/joe.taschler.1.

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Southwest's Freedom One shows up in Milwaukee. The jet's paint job is a version of the American flag, complete with 50 stars and 13 stripes -...

Before I begin, I have to preface this anecdote with this: I was a nerd in high school. I know, probably not surprising to anyone whos met me. But I was the worst kind of nerd a journalism nerd. While everyone else was attending football games and vying for the hot history teachers attention, I was sifting through public records and attending Board of Education meetings. Anyway

I grew up in the public school system, and that came with pros and cons. Yes, the lunchroom food tasted like cardboard, but because it was a public school district, it was subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). And for a journalism nerd such as myself, FOIA is a glorious thing.

When I wanted information about the salaries of top administrators in the district and the chief communications officer dug in his heels, I simply filled out and mailed a FOIA request and legally, they couldnt say no. I learned about their salaries, and many more seemingly-inaccessible pieces of information about the district, through the miracle of FOIA.

You can imagine, then, that going to a private university for college was a bit of a wake-up call. Because Drake is not government-operated and relies largely on tuition dollars for operation, it is considered a private university. Private universities are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act, and therefore, much of the information I would have been able to access in high school journalism through FOIA is now inaccessible to me as I pursue collegiate journalism.

At this point, you may be thinking: so what? Doesnt a private university have the right to withhold any information they want?

To that I say: yes, but is it really a private college if it accepts government funding?

Out of the approximately 1,700 nonprofit private colleges in the US, less than 20 do not accept any form of federal funding. To that handful of colleges: congratulations, you can do whatever you want and no one has the right to question it. Drake is not one of those schools.

The rest of those private institutions of higher education accept federal funding, such as federal student loans, government grants (which provide things like the Presidential Scholarship at Drake) and tax exemptions. In fact, many of them receive as much, if not more, federal funding as public colleges. If the mark of a private university is separation from the federal government, only the handful of colleges that refuse federal funding are truly private. The rest are just as intertwined with the government as public universities.

The only difference: public colleges are subject to FOIA, while private colleges are not.

This means that private colleges have no obligation to provide records, information and data to the public. They operate heavily on the government dime, as do public universities, but have none of the same accountability. If private colleges choose to accept federal funding, thats their prerogative: but they should face the same level of accountability and transparency under federal statute that public colleges do. College may not be free, but information should be.

Oh, and if youre wondering why private universities cant just pinky promise to be transparent and let the public access information? Believe me, weve fought that battle and died on that hill. It will never happen.

Originally posted here:

Drake and the Freedom of Information Act - Times-Delphic

Juan Feliciano said the message in practice this past week at Freedom High School was play fast and play physical.

Feliciano, a 6-foot, 260-pound, two-way starting lineman, and his Patriots teammates did that and more Friday night in a 31-17 Eastern Pennsylvania Conference South Division victory over Easton at BASD Stadium.

Felicianos crushing blindside hit of Easton quarterback Cole Transue and the ensuing fumble that was scooped up by Owen Johnson for a 55-yard touchdown triggered a 28-point outburst by No. 3 Freedom in the second quarter.

Instead of the seventh-ranked Red Rovers converting on the fourth-and-4 play from the Patriots 29-yard line and moving on in the drive to break a 3-3 tie, it was the Patriots, sparked by their swarming defense, who went into overdrive.

That was a big momentum swing, said Freedoms other senior two-way lineman Braelin Moore, who registered two sacks, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in the first half.

Moore wreaked havoc on the next drive with a tackle for loss and a sack. A short punt, which came after a poor snap from center, allowed the Patriots to start at Eastons 24.

Running back Jalen Fletcher took a pitchout around right end, cut back and raced untouched into the end zone. Zeyad Ragab added his second PAT for a 17-3 lead.

Eastons next possession netted minus 1 yard. Ethan Neidig returned the Red Rovers 32-yard punt to Eastons 35. Quarterback Brian Taylor deftly avoided a sack for a 13-yard gain before handing off to Kyle Johnson. The 5-10, 210-pound junior dashed through the right side of the line and carried four Rovers the final 4 yards for a 20-yard touchdown with 2:53 left in the half.

Feliciano imposed his will on the next series when he stuffed Eastons speedy running back Marcus Williams for no gain and stripped the ball at the same time. Moore picked up the loose ball and returned it 15 yards to Eastons 22.

Three plays later, Taylor threw to an open Fletcher for a 21-yard touchdown, and the Patriots had the BASD Stadium crowd in shock with a 31-3 lead with 44 seconds left.

For good measure, Moore sacked Transue on the final play of the half at the Patriots 33.

We couldnt block them, Easton coach Jeff Braido said. You can prepare all week, but you dont have anyone on your scout team that can give the look of someone that big, that fast. Hes (Moore) going to Virginia Tech, and theres a reason hes going to Virginia Tech.

Both the Patriots and Red Rovers were coming off disappointing EPC South opening losses with the Patriots struggling offensively in their 13-6 defeat at Emmaus. Easton couldnt protect a 21-7 lead against Parkland and fell 24-21.

It was not a fun week at our place; were not use to losing, Freedom coach Jason Roeder said. They responded not only tonight but all week in practice. Our defense made them uncomfortable, and I like the way we were flying around and playing hard. When you do that, you create the turnovers.

We had short-term memory, Moore said of the Emmaus loss. We know (in the EPC South) you cant sleep on any team.

Probably the one bright spot in the Emmaus loss was the rushing of Deante Crawford (20 rushes for 92 yards and a 13-yard TD). However, the senior was not at the game because of COVID-19 contact-tracing protocol.

We didnt get the news until yesterday (Thursday) on the practice field, Roeder said. It became next man up.

Sophomore Noah Pierre made the most of his sudden playing time with 13 rushes for 84 yards, including a 56-yarder on Freedoms first play from scrimmage.

Jalen Fletcher scored his two touchdown and wouldve tallied a third TD late in the game except he fumbled at the goal line and Easton recovered. He added 76 yards on seven carries.

Jalen is one of our most explosive players, Roeder said. We had to do a quick tutorial with him because hes normally a slotback.

Johnson is listed as a tight end, but he looked right at home running from the backfield. He contributed 53 yards on eight attempts.

We knew wed miss Deante, but those guys showed what they could do, Feliciano said.

Eastons Williams is one of the most explosive running backs and kick returners in the EPC. With Feliciano, Moore and nose guard Rayshawn Nicholas collapsing Eastons line, and linebackers Daniel Macon and Lorenzo Feliciano crashing off the edges, Williams rarely had anywhere to run.

To show what kind of night Williams experienced, he gained 55 yards on three of his rushes only to finish the game with 47 yards on 16 carries. Ten times he was dropped for a loss or no gain, often by the 6-3, 295-pound Moore.

They (Patriots) have some big boys on their defensive line and they were taking us backward, Braido said.

We knew he (Williams) was one of the best running backs wed face, and we just wanted to keep him in the box and not get outside, Moore said.

Easton made the game interesting in the fourth quarter when Transue and wideout JuJu Fears connected for a 21-yard TD pass with 8:11 remaining. Transue then tossed a 4-yard scoring pass to tight end Nino Rizzolino 3 minutes later after the Patriots suffered their own snap from center problems on a punt attempt.

When Bryce Billings recovered the ensuing onside kick at Eastons 46, Red Rovers fans were suddenly harkening Al Michaels Do You Believe in Miracles? proclamation. However, consecutive sacks by Johnson and Moore and then a third forced fumble by Juan Feliciano ended Eastons comeback hopes.

Braido lamented Eastons lost opportunities early in the game.

We intercepted two passes and forced a fumble and we only had three points to show for it, Braido said.

Rizzolino enjoyed a big game. The 5-10, 210-pound linebacker/tight end registered one of those interceptions at the line of scrimmage to go with a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss. JVier Johnson grabbed the other interception.

Freedom travels to Parkland next Friday, and Easton plays host to Central Catholic.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Corky Blake may be reached at sports@lehighvalleylive.com.

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Freedom footballs 28-point 2nd quarter highlights physical win over Easton - lehighvalleylive.com

FREEDOM For most players, regular-season blowout victories against over-matched opponents arent the most memorable. That wasnt the case for Blaine Smith on Monday night.

In Freedom Area High School's11-0 win over Ellwood City, Smith a scrawny freshman forward sporting thick-framed black goggles scored his first varsity goal. Coming into the match with very little experience playing organized soccer, it was a special moment when Smith found the back of the net with a little over 15 minutes left in the contest.

It just felt incredible, he said with a smile stretched across his face. The best feeling Ive ever had.

The Bulldogs built a nine-goallead versus the Wolverines before the first half even came to a close. Thats when head coach Phil Pawlowski knew it was time to give Smith a crack at scoring. Blaine is scoring before anyone else does, he told his players during a halftime huddle.

Though it didnt happen exactly how he drew it up (freshman midfielder Joe Castelli scored the teams 10th goal before Smith drilled No. 11), Pawlowski was glad to see Smith rewarded for the work hes put in so far.

Smiths teammates were pumped, too.

Almost every player on Freedoms sideline jumped off the bench and shouted in celebration when Smith put the finishing touches on their rout of Ellwood City.Players on the field hugged and high-fived their teammate.

Its awesome, said sophomore midfielder Dylan Scheel. Last year was a great feeling getting my first goal, so its really good for him.

Monday was also Smiths first game back since he hurt his left knee two weeks ago in practice. So, Pawlowski was hesitant at first to put the freshman in the game.

But being able to make an impact on the Bulldogs win was especially gratifying for Smith coming off an injury.

Sure, two other freshmen Castelli and defender Brodie Falk also scored. Smiths goal was different, though. Going from just kicking around in his backyard to putting points on the board in about a month or so was certainly an accomplishment worth celebrating.

When the ovation from the crowd on Monday was noticeably louder than it had been for any of the other Bulldogs goals, it was obvious the night belonged to Smith. He was the star of the show.

And even though it was a role he wasnt all too familiar with, Smith still took time to bask in the spotlight.

I appreciate everyone coming out here, he said. It just felt amazing.

Contact Parth Upadhyaya at pupadhyaya@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @pupadhyaya_.

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Freedom boys soccer's 11-0 win over Ellwood City was a night to remember for Blaine Smith - The Times

Im afraid it must be said again. Its getting harder and harder to continue to claim that we are a serious nation.

As the delta variant wreaks havoc around the globe, the United States has slipped to 40th in the world in the percentage of the population fully vaccinated, and thats despite having more doses of vaccine available than just about anyplace else. In July, we were 18th on the global list. It was not so long ago that America led the rich G7 countries in vaccination rates. Japan will soon pass us, and then well be last. Cant America win anymore?

That is the scandal, not Joe Bidens attempt to push the vaccination numbers up. The big controversy in Bidens six-part plan is the mandate (which is not a mandate) that those who work for companies with 100 or more employees must be vaccinated or, and please remember the or be forced to submit a weekly negative COVID test.

The usual suspects are calling it a power grab not sure what power is being grabbed by the way and an assault on the freedom of choice, which amounts to a freedom to infect others. Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee says the reason for vaccine hesitancy in America is that Biden is boring us to death with science. As I said, we may not be a serious country.

The numbers on vaccines should not be controversial. The boring scientists tell us that were 11 times more likely to die of COVID-19 if we havent been vaccinated. The boring science tells us that if all states had been vaccinated in July and August at the rate of high-percentage Vermont, nearly half those who died in America in those two months would still be alive. At this point, more than 1,500 Americans are dying each day. And the death rate in the low-vaccination states is far higher than in the high-vaccination states. Sorry, Gov. Huckabee, but thats not science, its math.

The law professors generally tell us that Bidens plan should hold up in court. The plan relies on OSHA, our worker safety laws, to show that people shouldnt be forced to work where steps are not being taken to stop the virus, thereby putting workers at great risk.

The logic is pretty clear. Of course, it may not be as clear as one would hope to those on the Supreme Court, despite Justice Amy Coney Barretts insistence that the court is not composed of a bunch of partisan hacks. If anything, Biden could have taken this further. He has the ability to go beyond masks for those traveling on trains and planes. He could also mandate that passengers be vaccinated or, yes, show that negative COVID test. Some countries, and a few American cities, are requiring some form of the so-called vaccine passports.

In Colorado, Jared Polis is angry thats the right word that more people cant get booster shots right away. Hes actually calling for people to lie about their immunity status. And he says that those in the Food and Drug Administration who are holding matters up have blood on their hands. Hes also angry Im not too happy myself that the FDA isnt moving faster on approving vaccines for those age 6 to 11.

On the other hand, Polis has refused to mandate masks in public schools in Colorado, much less vaccinations for those who are eligible. Hes back in encouragement mode. So, let me just say Im not entirely impressed with Polis outrage.

I mean, look at Douglas County, where the commissioners voted unanimously to end their decades-long association with the Tri-County Health Department because the Tri-County board ordered masks for all students and staff in public schools. In Douglas County, its all about the liberty the liberty for parents to choose to put not just their own kids at risk, but also other peoples kids. And everyones kids, as we know by now, seem to be far more vulnerable to the delta variant, not to mention teachers and staff.

I have my own story, which is not about me, but someone far more important, my 6-year-old grandson.

Over the Labor Day weekend, he came down with a cold, a slight cough, a middling fever, and this is when I got worried he said he couldnt really taste his food. The food in question was his daily quota of candy six M&Ms. Youd be worried, too.

Hes a first grader in Austin. His school district has defied Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts anti-mandate mandate, which says that school districts as well as individual schools cannot require masks or, for that matter, vaccines. This mandate comes as Texas is one of the nations hotspots for COVID-19. How hot? The latest news from the Austin metro area was that there were seven adult and four pediatric ICU beds available. The week before, there werent any vacant ICU beds.

Fortunately, most of the large school districts in Texas have defied the governor, whose devotion to choice isnt exactly universal. It doesnt apparently apply to, say, a 13-year-old rape victim seeking an abortion.

So, despite Abbott, my grandson and his classmates must all be masked. His teachers and the schools staff also must be masked. And on a voluntary basis, all teachers and staff have been fully vaccinated. His schools classrooms are equipped with a top-of-the-line air filtration system. The kids eat lunch in assigned seats, with glass partitions. Many of the older kids eat outside.

They dont offer regular COVID testing in the district, but otherwise, theyre pretty much doing all they can.

And yet.

His school had reported one case of COVID. My daughter took Lalo, the grandson with the fever, to the nearest rapid-testing site. Two hours later, she got a text saying the test was negative. A day or two later, the fever was gone, the cough was gone. Taste was back. All that was left was a sniffle or two.

It would be an alls-well-that-ends-well story, except that, with the delta variant, theres no clear ending in sight. Thats why Biden reluctantly finally, Id say is forcing vaccine compliance in many of the places that he can legally and encouraging vaccines everywhere else.

More than a quarter of those eligible in America have not been vaccinated at all, and, if you believe the polls, many of them have no intention of changing their minds. Many more have gotten only one Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, which doesnt provide nearly as much protection as two shots, not to mention the third-shot booster.

Will Bidens plan work? As you probably heard, Biden spoke from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden Tuesday, pushing his climate-change agenda and the $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill the cost is spread over 10 years that hes trying to get through the Senate. He didnt mention that the bill would include major rollbacks in the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy, but, in any case, I hope Joe Manchin was listening.

Biden wasnt here to talk about COVID-19, but as far as Im concerned, he cant talk too much about vaccinations as the only way out of the pandemic. If certain politicians think its boring to talk about the science behind a virus that has killed more than 600,000 Americans, that just might be the cost we have to pay for freedom from COVID-19.

Mike Littwin has been a columnist for too many years to count. He has covered Dr. J, four presidential inaugurations, six national conventions and countless brain-numbing speeches in the New Hampshire and Iowa snow. This column was first published by The Colorado Sun.

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Littwin: In the name of 'freedom,' America ranks 40th in the world for those fully vaccinated. Seriously. - Steamboat Pilot and Today

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lionrock, the leader in telehealth services for substance use disorders (SUDs) treatment and recovery services in the United States, today announced the theme for the second annual National Online Recovery Day campaign: Freedom In Recovery. National Online Recovery Day is observed on September 22, during National Recovery Month. This year, Lionrock is spreading awareness to help fight the stigma attached to SUDs with a social media campaign that calls supporters to wear purple for those who have found freedom in recovery, as well as those who are still battling their disease.

Participants are encouraged to post a picture of themselves wearing purple, use the hashtags #FreedomInRecovery and #NationalOnlineRecoveryDay, and share why they wear purple. Supporters can post at their discretion, whether that be simply posting a photo in purple to stand in solidarity for the cause, or openly sharing how recovery has touched their life. Together, Lionrock seeks to reduce stigma and help more people find freedom in recovery.

Lionrock has created a National Online Recovery Day Community Toolkit that includes materials for individuals in recovery and those who simply want to get involved and raise awareness. The toolkit includes:

Lionrock established the inaugural National Online Recovery Day in 2020 to drive widespread awareness among the 42 million people impacted by SUDs, emphasizing that online recovery services are available, accessible from anywhere, and completely private. This years theme recognizes that only 4.2 million people receive treatment each year and find freedom in recovery. Lionrock aims to change that.

Drug overdose deaths in the US increased nearly 30% in 2020, with a record 93,000 deaths due to drug overdose documented. This is the sharpest increase the U.S. has seen in three decades.

Now more than ever, as the COVID pandemic continues, and with it, mental health challenges and substance abuse rises, its critical people know how to access support. National Online Recovery Day is a platform to highlight the incredible online resources and services available and to urge people who need help with a substance abuse problem to find their freedom, said Lionrock CEO Peter Loeb.

Accessing help online removes some of the barriers that prevent people struggling with SUDs from seeking treatment. Online therapy sessions and meetings are completely private, flexible, and accessible from anywhere. And, online recovery works; teletherapy is just as effective as in-person therapy, or even superior in some cases. In fact, a study of 98,609 patients concluded that getting help online is at least as effective as in-person therapy.

For more information about National Online Recovery Day, including how to get involved and online recovery resources, visit nationalonlinerecoveryday.com.

About Lionrock

Founded in 2010, Lionrock is the leading telehealth provider of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery services in the United States. Lionrock provides evidence-based treatment for substance use disorders at the Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and Outpatient levels of care, including medication-assisted treatment and continuing care. Lionrock is accredited by the Joint Commission, employs master-level licensed counselors in most states, and accepts most private health insurance. Lionrock also offers the recovery community free support group meetings, both 12-step and alternative, recognizing that recovery is a lifetime pursuit.

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Lionrock Announces Freedom in Recovery Theme for 2021 National Online Recovery Day - Business Wire

The Freedom Phone is a new "free speech and privacy first" handset unveiled in July that's raising red flags with journalists and security experts, who say it's just a rebranded budget Chinese Android phone.

The 22 year-old self-proclaimed "Bitcoin millionaire" Erik Finman in an interview with The New York Times described smartphones as "the ultimate political tools. Everyone has one in their pocket." His brand newFreedom Phonepromises to prioritize "free speech and privacy"above anything else. You might assume that the Freedom Phone follows the trend of phone-makers like Apple that use software updates to make it harder for companies to track you. Finman's initial announcement for the Freedom Phone was followed swiftly bysecurity concernsraised bynumerous publications and privacy experts.

The Freedom Phone and its politically conservative branding will appeal to many, but there is nothing to suggest that the phone, its privacy claims or avoidance of Big Tech work the way Finman suggests. The phone raises a number of red flags despite its maker wanting you to see nothing more than red, white and blue. The Freedom Phone contradicts Finman's hype and it makes me wonder if he is being entirely forthright with buyers.

On Aug. 9, Finman posted to Twitter a picture of a stack of FedEx boxes with the caption, "It's shipping time." The tweet was posted using Twitter for iPhone.

Eric Finman posted a tweet using Twitter for iPhone to announce that the first batch of Freedom Phones were shipping.

The website for the Freedom Phonehas been overhauled since it launched. The 10 different "buy" buttons were reduced to three, including the ability to use Apple Pay, which is curious, because of Finman's outspoken opposition to Big Tech companies. The site states, "Not just making America great. But also making a great phone." The Freedom Phone appears to be more interested in political rhetoric than technical innovations.

If you're looking for a phone that protects your privacy, look elsewhere. The Freedom Phone raises a lot of red flags. Initially the phone was supposed to run software called Freedom OS, which Finman claimed protects your privacy. It had an "uncensorable" app store called the PatriApp store that claims to feature apps banned by Big Tech. In the announcement video, Finman shows off a phone that is powered off and looks similar to a budget Chinese phone that sells for one-quarter of the Freedom Phone's $500 price.

On Aug. 26, Finman announced a partnership with ClearCellular, which runs on AT&T and T-Mobile networks in the US. Future models of the Freedom Phone will run ClearOS Mobile, which is based on Android 10, made by the Big Tech company Google. The new phones will have better hardware, security and a ClearCellular logo on the back.

Discover the latest news and best reviews in smartphones and carriers from CNET's mobile experts.

In a post on Twitter, Finman wrote, "We designed the original version great, but now we're making it 10x better. That means stronger security, tighter privacy, and better hardware."

Thebasic specsand technical details put the Freedom Phone nearly on par with a $200 budget Android phone. Despite Finman claiming that the Freedom Phone is comparable to the best smartphones, its hardware doesn't come close to premium phones like the Galaxy S21 Ultra or iPhone 12 Pro Max. On paper, it doesn't even seem comparable to the best budget phones. There are no details about the new version of the Freedom Phone that comes out in November or what makes it "10x better."

It's not clear whether the models that shipped in August will be upgraded from Freedom OS to ClearOS or if Finman is planning to support both Freedom OS and ClearOS moving forward. Also, if the original phone and OS was supposed to be robust, what makes the new OS have stronger security and privacy features? No matter what your politics are, this isn't a good sign.

Read more: 5G myths, debunked

There isn't much information about how any of the software privacy and free speech features actually work on the August version of the Freedom Phone, or the new version that's due out in November. This is a red flag. The phone is marketed entirely on its politically conservative branding and seems like nothing more than a savvy entrepreneur looking to make money from conservatives frustrated with Facebook and Twitter banning former President Donald Trump.

I also ordered a Freedom Phone for testing, but had my order canceled. I placed another order and hope to test it out when I receive it. I don't recommend you buy the Freedom Phone at this time. I contacted Freedom Phone and Finman for comment and to get more information about the phone.

It's a new phone that promises to protect your privacy and allow free speech without censorship across the device. In his promotional video, Finman says that the Freedom Phone "does everything your current phone does except censor you or spy on you." He says it's comparable to the best smartphones on the market. TheFreedom Phone's specs are not comparable to the specs of the best phones. At best, some of the specs are comparable to the $200 Moto G Play or the $250 Moto G Power. Both of those phones have a giant 5,000-mAh battery. The size of the Freedom Phone's battery is unknown.

Finman goes on to state that everyone is complaining about "Big Tech censorship" but no one is doing anything about it. On screen in the video, a generic tweet is shown that's dated Dec. 18 and attributed to Twitter user "@twitteruser" that reads, "BUILD YOUR OWN PHONE!" To which Finman replies, "So, I did." The Twitter account shown is a real address whose last post is dated Nov. 5, 2013.

There is the original Freedom Phone and apparently a new version that comes out in three months' time.

We don't know. In the launch video, the phone remains powered off the entire time. That could indicate that the software isn't ready for viewing. We asked Freedom Phone for more details.

Any time a handset vendor makes claims about a phone's features, it falls to the company to demonstrate and explain how those features work. The Freedom Phone's website, launch video and Finman's posts on Twitter give few details about the phone or how its protections work. The technical details shared don't match up to Finman's claims. The fact that the company already has a second version of the phone planned with an entirely new OS is a huge red flag.

It's listed at $500. That's the same price as a Galaxy A52 5G, a Google Pixel 4A 5G and an iPhone XR. It's $50 more than the new Google Pixel 5A with 5G.

Read more:Best phones under $500 in 2021

The Freedom Phone has the tagline: "Made for conservatives by conservatives." Turns out it's actually made by a Chinese company called Umidigi that's based in Shenzhen. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Finman confirmed that Umidigi made the Freedom Phone but didn't specify which Umidigi phone design is used.

Matthew Hickey, a cybersecurity expert who co-founded Hacker House, told the Daily Dot that the Freedom Phone is a Chinese phone called the Umidigi A9 Pro that can be bought from AliExpress for as little as $119. He said that the A9 Pro is sold in bulk with custom logos and branding.

In a tweet, Finman wrote, "We designed this between my design lab and our partner in Hong Kong to make a phone that is custom."

No. Even if all of Finman's claims about the Freedom Phone turn out to be true, it's best to wait until devices are available to test the company's claims.

Finman hasn't explained how the phone works, or how it protects your privacy or free speech. Despite the claims so far, the Freedom Phone's basic technical details don't match the claims Finman made about it being comparable to the best phone on the market. The fact that he is releasing an entirely new version of the Freedom Phone just months after the initial one shipped isn't a good sign either. While I can't outright call it a scam, I would approach this handset with caution until it's available for testing.

The first Freedom Phone runs on Freedom OS. Finman says that it won't track your apps, your keystrokes or your location, but he doesn't explain how. The phone's Freedom OS has a security privacy guard called Trust.

"With powerful tools such as Trust, you are in control of what your apps can do whenever you want. Trust will help you understand the security of your device and warn you about possible threats."

We have never heard of Trust. It might be something Finman's team developed. Again, there aren't any details on how it works or where it came from. It isn't clear if Freedom OS is based on Android. (And just a reminder that Big Tech company Google makes Android.)

Google frequently updates Android with software upgrades and security patches, which this phone likely wouldn't get.

An upcoming new version of the Freedom Phone will run ClearOS Mobile, which is built on Android 10.

The website says the Freedom Phone has an "uncensorable" PatriApp store offering apps banned by the Google Play Store and iOS App Store. What's unclear is if there are policies in the PatriApp store that protect against illicit criminal activity, hate speech, graphic and sexual material or pedophilia. Is the PatriApp store basically like the 4chan of app stores?

It also isn't clear how the phone would handle technical details like IP tracing, website cookies or other conventional tracking tools used on phones and other electronic devices. We don't know if the Freedom Phone has received clearance from the Federal Communications Commission.

The Freedom Phone website states it will work with "Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile & Sprint, and all other domestic and international carriers." (In 2020, T-Mobile officially closed its $26.5 billion merger with Sprint.)

The upcoming version will run on ClearCellular, which runs on the backs of AT&T and T-Mobile.

It's unclear, and the issue isn't addressed on the Freedom Phone website.

This is also unclear. In Finman's promo video, the term Big Tech is largely used in the context of Twitter and Facebook banning Trump after he used his accounts to whip up a mob that invaded the Capitol on Jan. 6.

The Freedom Phone is available to order now. We strongly recommend you don't order it.

The original Freedom Phone shipped in August. A second batch will ship in October. The new version of the Freedom Phone is expected to ship in November.

At this time, only on the Freedom Phone website.

The website shows icons for Parler, NewsMax, OANN, Rumble, the DuckDuckGo web browser and Telegram encrypted messaging. But it's unclear if it will be able to run productivity apps like Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat, social media apps like TikTok or Snapchat, dating apps like Tinder or Grindr, or video games.

We have strong doubts. The design shown in the video looks like dozens of budget Android phones we've seen over the years. It doesn't look high-end. The screen has a teardrop cutout for the selfie camera, which is a design choice many Android phones had three years ago.

From the specs that are shared, it's clear that the Freedom Phone's are not on par with specs from thebest smartphones like the iPhone 12 or Galaxy S21. The Freedom Phone has some specs that match up to budget phones like the $200 Moto G Play and $250 Moto G Power, even though the Moto phones have additional features like Turbo Charging.

It has a 6-inch screen that Finman says is edge-to-edge. In the video, he never shows the display powered on running Freedom OS. Photos show a dual-SIM card tray with a spot for expandable storage. Finman says things like "great camera," "comparable to the best smartphones on the market" and a "super fast processor," but the specs shared tell a different story.

At best, the Freedom Phone's hardware specs put it barely on the same level with a $200-$250 budget phone. Important details about the type of processor (Qualcomm or MediaTek) as well as the battery size are left out. There are three rear cameras, but aside from the resolution of the sensors, information regarding cameras is absent, such as if one is ultrawide or a depth sensor.

Curiously, the Freedom Phone has NFC, which means it could be able to use wireless payments like Google Pay. But since Google is part of Big Tech I'm not sure what, if any, wireless payments would be supported on Freedom OS. There also isn't any mention of biometric security like a fingerprint reader to unlock the phone or for online shopping. See how the Freedom Phone's specs stack up against some 2021 budget phones below.

According to its website, Freedom Phone is owned by Finman, LLC, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Eric Finman is listed as the company's agent and organizer.

Finman grew up in Idaho. In 2013, at the age of 14 he reportedly bought 100 Bitcoin for $1,000, which, by the time he was 20, was worth more than $1 million. In 2017, he founded the education startup Botangle. In 2019, he invested in a cryptocurrency company calledMetal Pay to be a competitor to Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency (now called Diem).

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Freedom Phone: The 'ultimate political tool' and why you should avoid it - CNET

Earlier this year, just days before World Press Freedom Day, Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., joined forces to introduce the International Press Freedom Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill to protect at-risk journalists working in highly censored countries. The legislation is predicated on the idea that the United States is a uniquely safe place for journalists but that notion doesnt always hold up under scrutiny.

Introduced on April 29, the International Press Freedom Act is one of at least three press freedom bills that Congress has considered since Saudi authorities killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018. But while other bills have proposed piecemeal protections such as sanctions on restrictive governments or a government office for threatened journalists Kaine and Grahams bill takes a more comprehensive approach. In addition to directing State Department funds toward investigating and prosecuting crimes against journalists abroad, the law would create a new visa category for threatened reporters and open a State Department office with a $30 million annual fund to help journalists report safely or relocate.

Press advocacy groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists have praised Kaine and Grahams bill, claiming that the legislation would bolster U.S. foreign diplomacy on global press freedom. In a statement, Kaine emphasized the U.S.s responsibility to spread its free speech ethos.

Enshrined in both our Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, press freedom is a core American value that we must constantly promote around the globe, he said in a press release. With this bill, our country will let journalists know that we will protect their right to report and offer safe harbor when they are threatened.

But that safe harbor doesnt seem to apply to foreign journalists the U.S. government itself has threatened. For years, the Justice Department has worked to extradite and prosecute WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, first for publishing Army war logs provided by Chelsea Manning in 2010 and then in 2016 for publishing leaked Democratic Party emails that the Justice Department said were hacked by Russia. And thoughthe governmentsextradition efforts are inching closer to fruition amid several U.S. appeals, Kaine and Graham have remained silent.

Assange sought refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in the U.K. but was arrested in 2019 on an extradition warrant under charges related to his 2010 publication of military documents. Assanges charges which include one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and 17 counts under the Espionage Act for exposing national defense information could land him in prison for a maximum of 147 years.

Of Assanges many critics, Kaine and Graham have been some of the loudest. In the years since the publication of the military war logs and the Democratic National Committees emails, the senators have taken to cable news to air their contempt. [WikiLeaks] released classified information between our government and foreign leaders that embarrassed foreign leaders and our government, Graham said on CNN in 2017, after former President Donald Trump tweeted support for Assange. So Mr. Assange is a fugitive from the law hiding in an embassy who has a history of undermining American interests.

Kaine, whose vice presidential hopes may have been hampered by the 2016 email leak, celebrated Assanges arrest in 2019. Its something that we expected, we knew the day would come, and justice has to be done, he told CNN anchors in 2019. The thing that Im most interested in is, when you get to the bottom of this story, how do we learn enough to protect sensitive information from vandals like Julian Assange? (Graham, meanwhile, tweeted his approval of the arrest.)

Over a year after Assanges detainment, Englands High Court held a series of hearings about his case, which culminated in a January 2021 ruling that blocked Assanges extradition. But in August, the court expanded the grounds on which the U.S. could appeal the decision, flooding the court with a wave of appeals. (The U.K.s extradition procedure requires British prosecutors to represent the U.S. in court, meaning that U.K. taxpayers are footing the prosecutions bill.)

Its fine to offer visas to persecuted journalists, but its immensely hypocritical for the U.S. to do this at the same time it is seeking to extradite Julian Assange.

Its clear theyre out to get him, said Chip Gibbons, policy director for Defending Rights & Dissent, who has covered Assanges case for Jacobin. Its fine to offer visas to persecuted journalists, but its immensely hypocritical for the U.S. to do this at the same time it is seeking to extradite Julian Assange.

Assange isnt the only publisher or whistleblower the bill sponsors have targeted. Graham, one of loudest critics of government leakers in Congress, championed the imprisonment of Edward Snowden and slammed Obama for commuting Mannings prison sentence in 2017. Kaine has occasionally taken a softer stance, although he also opposed Mannings commutation and said that Reality Winner has got to suffer the consequences for leaking a classified document pertaining to the 2016 election. Still, the senators bemoaned the number of journalists imprisoned worldwide in the press release for their bill.

A spokesperson for Kaine said that he introduced the International Press Freedom Act because of his long-standing support for human rights inspired by Kaines long-standing support for human rights and in particular his outrage over the death of Jamal Khashoggi but did not answer questions about Assanges extradition. Representatives for Graham and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., a co-sponsor of the bill who has also voiced support for Assanges extradition, did not respond to requests for comment.

And press freedom advocates, while supportive of the press freedom bill, said that the legislation would yield the biggest impact if the U.S. followed its own policies.

Anytime we, or the U.S. government, or members of Congress are talking about press freedom internationally, its, in my mind, a good thing, said Trevor Timm, co-founder and executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation. But for any of that advocacy to be remotely effective, its important for the U.S. to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.

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Press Freedom Bill Would Protect Journalists but Not Assange - The Intercept

Not everyone has the freedom to speech, religion, press, assembly or petition.

But Americans do.

My heart is breaking over what is happening in Afghanistan. To those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, to their families and to those who are getting killed for being Christian.

Their hardships make me realize how blessed we are to be American. We can say what we want, do what we want, believe what we want and go to school where we want. We wouldnt be able to do these things without those who fought for our freedom.

To the veterans who have served in Afghanistan since 2001, your service does not go unnoticed. Your courageous actions after 9/11 will forever be remembered. You left your families, friends, your wife or husband and did what had to be done.

You fought for our country. You helped us young ones learn about patriotism, what it means to be American and how to get up after tough stuff happens, like the horrific day of 9/11.

My heart is hurting for our soldiers who have been seriously injured or paid the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to our country this past week.

To the service members who lost their lives near Karzai International Airport 11 U.S. Marines, one Navy Sailor and one Army soldier your strength, enthusiasm and love for our country is inspiring.

We need to be grateful for all they have sacrificed for us.

There were players who would kneel and be ungrateful during the playing of the national anthem: what a shame. The national anthem pays respect to those who have risked their lives, those who have been injured and those who made the ultimate sacrifice to the United States of America.

Although these athletes are kneeling or sitting as a way to use their voice, I believe they can use other platforms for the issues they are advocating for. At the Olympics, there were a couple of U.S. players that would kneel for the national anthem their own team.

It is frustrating. You are competing at the highest level and you decide to kneel for your national anthem.

I think about those who have fought, are currently active and those who have been struggling since the end of their active duty. I think of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and then I think of those who sit or kneel for the national anthem.

I hope in the coming games, athletes realize what is going on in the world and decide to stand and put their hand on their heart. If you are not standing with your hand on your heart, you should not be on the team.

Be respectful.

You should be proud to be an American. You should be grateful for everything you got thanks to your freedom.

In the wise words of country singer Kip Moore, We live in a place where we roll up to any church we want to attend (while drinking our almond milk latte). We leave there to meet up with friends for our 1 p.m. brunch and mimosas. We wake up the following day and we complain. Were an outraged bunch.

And by outraged bunch he means ungrateful, greedy and selfish. We can go to whatever church, drink our fancy coffees and then can go out with friends afterwards. Then Monday comes and we are an ungrateful bunch again.

If you think about it, we need to be less outraged. We need to be grateful toward those who have served or are serving for our country. We need to wake up in the mornings and cherish everything weve got: a nice roof over our heads, food on the table, good company and an amazing country. I hope next time we feel ungrateful, we think about those who sacrifice holidays, birthdays and anniversaries to protect our country.

We live in the land of the free because of the brave.

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Freedom is not free - the Spectrum - NDSU The Spectrum