It's true many of the decisions we make seem to be dictated by necessity, but there's still plenty of room for the exercise of free choice. I chose to live in Massachusetts, and not in Michigan. I chose my occupation. Even if I have no real choice about having to drag my butt out of bed every weekday morning to go to work, I can choose to drive a car to work at a job in the suburbs, instead of taking the train to a job in the city. If I really wanted to, I could quit my job and choose a different job, though not necessarily at the same compensation.

Even if choices have limitations, even severe limitations imposed by economics, having the freedom to choose at all means everything.

Having once lived in a military dictatorship, I greatly appreciate the true freedom we do have here in America. Any time, day or night, I can get up, walk out the door, get in my car, and drive - and go just about anywhere I damn well please. And say anything, to anyone, I damn well please. That's so precious.