Bog - I don't like some of the things the Feds are doing WRT the war on terror; but think about it. . . . . .
You've heard a lot of Ashcroft-bashing. But remember, John Ashcroft is an honest man, and although I am not religious, I can respect (and trust) someone that devout. His religion is WHY he is bashed, BTW.
Recall also that he is replacing an attorney general who did WACO and threw Elian back over the wall after picking him up at gunpoint.
Ashcroft has fought to have gun records, as per law, left confidential.
Some new security actions have taken place. The airport security thing is unfortunate, I'll give you that. But look at the source of complaints that the US is losing its "civil freedoms" under Bush/Ashcroft. Are these the people who complain about the gunowner abuse? Are these people who complain about a Jesse Jackson shakedown?
They are merely complaining because it's a Republican in the whitehouse. Most of the complaints are at seeing TERRORISTS in red outfits on Guantanamo island, even while celebrating Castro, who does far worse to his own people.
Would you talk of rights? The US DOES have very powerful agencies that enforce laws, good and bad. But in which situation are you living under the greatest oppression? One with less gun bans; but with armed ATF agents ready to nail you to a cross? Or one with an almost total self-defense ban (like UK); but that people merely accept and consequently needs little enforcement?
The strength of law enforcers, in and of itself, is not an indication of oppression. Your freedom of your action that you can engage in without drawing their ire is.
There is no comparison between the US and the UK. Those (particularly in liberal media in UK) who call the US less free are telling you lies.
The only exception I can think of where the UK may be better for one is if one lives off of welfare (I include the school/transportation as welfare). But any slave has to figure out eventually that even with the "free food and shelter" slavery is a raw deal.