Are Americans afraid of freedom?

I grew up in a very patriotic family, being told this was the land of the free. I was led to believe that we are the freest nation on earth.

As I grew up and came to understand the world better, I realized this simply isn’t true. I thought that it was the government’s fault, but now I realize that Americans have elected the government they wanted. Bush wasn’t the first president to severely inhibit the freedoms of Americans. I doubt that Obama will be the last.

I see people who are bitterly critical of people who even suggest that less government intervention in our every day lives is a good thing. And it makes me wonder: what are we so afraid of?