Political Freedom

Earlier I discussed the basic level of freedom through the words of the crazy French existentialist/socialist Jean-Paul Sartre. But as I drove into work today I was listening to some other philosopher and a radio talking about republicanism. His position was that in a republic to be free is to not have master - a person or otherwise (i.e. a corporation or other organization) to prevent you from doing what you do. That is, so long as what you desire to do does not interfere with the freedom of others as is the case when you become a master.

This made me think of the current state of the U.S. Do we truly live up to the principle? Have corporations become so large that they have become our masters in place of the fuedal lords? Can we be free when we deny citizens the right to pursue their version of happiness simply because it does not fit our view of happiness, as I see being the case in gay marriage?

I need more time to ponder these questions among others. But, if I have any readers (and my traffic log says that generally there are none) maybe you'd like to give your two cents to these questions as I write a longer treatise on the subject.

p.s. I was suddenly reminded of Nietzche's master/slave morality...I must look back over that it might be relevant.