The list of standards and methods sounds good (except that they have a rather one-eyed focus on government propaganda, and seem to completely exclude oligarchic control of the press from the list of indicators).

However, when I compare them with the list of rankings, I find that they have clearly not been consistently applied.

Under the criteria provided, for example, the USA is only partly free.

• There is no genuine multi-party system, and oligarchic interests completely dominate both parties.

• There are not equal campaigning opportunities for all parties, since the opportunity to campaign is intimately tied to the campaign budget, which again tilts the playing field in favour of the oligarchs.

• There is no rotation of power among parties representing different interests - because both parties represent broadly the same interests.

• There are no serious attempts to curtail the influence of oligarchs upon the political process.

• People's political choices are completely dominated by economic oligarchies.

• Civil servants are employed and promoted chiefly based on political affiliation.

• The federal authorities routinely and openly discriminate against minorities.

• The United States torture with impunity. Both in the military system and in civilian prisons.

• US prisons are notorious for their lack of concern for basic human rights and dignity.

• The US arbitrarily arrests and detains without trial.

None of the points I raise are particularly controversial. Except perhaps the claim that the parties are largely indistinguishable. But that is documented to excess here on ET: If either party didn't represent the moneyed interests, it would be making noises about cutting off Wall Street's and K Street's balls and hanging them from the nearest streetlight.

And yet the USA gets a perfect score in Freedom House's assessment. That really ought to tell you everything you need to know about them.

- Jake

If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.