A free people?

Of course you’re free. Provided you simply ignore a few minor details such as:
The government can spy on your internet use. And censor it.
Monitor your emails. Tap your telephone. Monitor your financial affairs. Keep track of your overseas travel. Search your home and vehicle. Bug your home and vehicle. Demand that you supply details of your living arrangements, and the number, gender and ages of those living with you. Share both your medical history and your bank account details between government agencies. Demand that you provide proof that your possessions were legally obtained. (unless you’re a member of a gang, that is).  Stop you when going about your lawful business, without reasonable cause. Decide under what circumstances and with what weapons you’re allowed to defend your family.
And that’s before we even get to the plethora of rules and regulations dreamed up  (and enforced at your expense) by local councils….
This is an argument I had with somebody I work alongside. When these facts were pointed out to him, the best he could come up with was “well, the government doesn’t stop me doing the things I want to do.”
Which brings to mind Erich Honeker’s famous words: “of course our people (East Germans) are free–they’re free to do anything that isn’t expressly forbidden”
If battery hens could speak, no doubt they’d be saying something similar.