Liberal democracy You are free to stand outside the gates of the White House with a sign calling Joe Biden the devil incarnate and agitate for the downfall of the federal government Try doing that in Tehran Insulting the "Supreme Leader" is an imprisonable offence - Article 514, Islamic Penal Code "publishing lies" is punishable by execution - Article 286, Islamic Penal Code Liberal democracy is very, very far from perfect And it is not the ultimate form of living together (I would hope) But people living under the alternatives would give their front and back teeth for half of the freedoms that we have And many are risking and giving their lives for that future