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Comment by jamessantiago | Hacker News Reader

I always have mixed feelings when it comes to Russian "freedom." On one hand it looks like a libertarian's dream where freedom (to not wear a seatbelt...) is plentiful. On the other hand, it also reminds me of this: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/19/anarchi...

There's a fine balance between freedom and recklessness but I'm glad Russia has smokejumpers and the like so we can see another way than that of most of the western nations.

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Thanks for generalizing. I assume everyone in USA owns a shotgun and a trailer?

It should be noted that the US also has smokejumpers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0a-UcqrYFg

Russians care less about physical safety then West. It has nothing to do with freedom.

It's not just physical safety. In Russia we have a popular saying, "the severity of Russian laws is offset by their non-observance". Variants of the phrase has been attributed to various authors from the 19th century, yet it still holds true.

Seatbelt is obligatory here (well, at least on a front seat), what are you talking about? ;)

Well, not just the seatbelt example but also the feeling of freedom from limited policing and/or limited laws. In the article when Alex claims, "No seat belts in Russia!" I imagine freedom from an over-zealous law system whether from under enforcement or otherwise. Certainly, I'm looking from the outside in and my views on freedom in Russia aren't from a deep knowledge on the subject. And the word "freedom" is probably a poor choice but that's the feeling I get when I see a tank purchased with ease or a home made helicopter taking off.

I'd like to have that same feeling in the US but I'm apprehensive about the implications.

Speaking of purchasing arms, the regulations are much stricter in Russia, btw: you may be able to buy a tank (w/o the machine guns, and w/ a malfunctioning main gun), but there's no type of license allowing one to buy full-auto weapons, as far as I understand (unless there's an affiliation with government, at least). The helicopter will not get you imprisoned though :)

Have you ever been to Russia? There is no "free to not wear a seatbelt". Only fines.

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