The American Bill of Rights, by the numbers.

Freedom is based on the idea that people have natural rights, and that no person can lose his rights in a free society.  All personal right and freedom is called into question the instant any of the natural rights is negated by state power.  

You would expect tension between personal freedom and the power of the government to rule over (and squash) people's lives.  Politicians make a living by telling other people how to live.  For this reason, a wise person realizes politicians are not trustworthy.  Only a fool would sell himself to a politician. 

Many people don't know what their rights are under the US Constitution.  The Bill of Rights, from the US Constitution, is a list of rights the people enjoy, both as personal rights and as rights against overbearing government.  The list is the essentials, but you should not think of this as the limit of human freedom. 

1. Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
2. Right to keep and bear arms - A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
3. Conditions for quarters of soldiers - No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
4. Right of search and seizure regulated - The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
5. Provisions concerning prosecution - No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
6. Right to a speedy trial, witnesses, limning power of the state to prosecute.  - In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
7. Right to a trial by jury - In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
8. Excessive bail, cruel punishment - Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
9. Rule of construction of Constitution - The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
10. Rights of the States under Constitution - The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The US plebiscite seems to favor growing state power at the expense of individual freedom.  This makes the current American political climate essentially identical to fascism.  Both systems require the individual to submit to the ever growing power of the state.

This can be resisted if the people become aware of what they are losing.  The short list on this page is what you lose, folks  - It may not seem like much, but it makes life worth living.  The rights we have will last only as long as we are willing to defend those rights against encroaching politicians.

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Note on the text:  The words in blue included with the Bill of Rights are meant to be brief descriptions; they are not in the original text.

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Incidentally, the "Affordable Care Act," aka "Obamacare," with its compulsory mediocrity, contradicts the freedom of association, a derived right, whose roots are found in the First Amendment.