--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: America really is two countries today…" description: "\"“America really is two countries today. One half still loves freedom, and the other half’s already socialist, even if they don’t call it that—yet. Th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/matthew-bracken-42626_freedom_america-really-is-two-countries-today-on_2809496.jpg" --- # America really is two countries today. One half still… ![“America really is two countries today. One half still loves freedom, and the other half’s already socialist, even if they don’t call it that—yet. The free half is keeping them from going all the way to having the kind of socialist government they want, but they can’t quite shove us out of the way…” quote by Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/matthew-bracken-42626_freedom_america-really-is-two-countries-today-on_2809496.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/matthew-bracken-42626_freedom_america-really-is-two-countries-today-on_2809496.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/matthew-bracken-42626_freedom_america-really-is-two-countries-today-on_2809496.jpg) > ““America really is two countries today.  One half still loves freedom, and the other half’s already socialist, even if they don’t call it that—yet.  The free half is keeping them from going all the way to having the kind of socialist government they want, but they can’t quite shove us out of the way while we’ve got so many guns.  I think that’s really what all this is about: once they’ve got our guns, they’ll just pass all their damn socialist laws.  They’ll just increase our taxes until we’re like Sweden, and if we don’t like it, tough shit.  Anybody that fights back will get a free ride to a special camp for problem children.”” [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts perceived freedom with rising socialism, warning that loss of arms could lead to higher taxes and restrictive laws. **In simple terms:** Losing guns may bring more government control. Key Takeaway Guard freedoms, stay vigilant. Themes politics freedom government taxes socialism Mood anxious defensive Type political controversial When to use this quote - elections - public policy debates - activism - community organizing Key Concepts libertarianism political polarization civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance security and liberty? - What alternatives exist to prevent perceived overreach? A Different Perspective Assumes all gun owners share same political views. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Free Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-ride/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-half-2992053/) [Got Guns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-guns-521703/) [Guns Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guns-think-1562915/) [Half Socialist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-socialist-2754514/) [Kind Socialist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-socialist-3509551/) ## Related quotes > [“She's some kind of Socialist-anarchist-anarcho-syndicalist-Communist. Unless you're one of them you can't tell exactly what any of them are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow-2/she-s-some-kind-of-socialist-anarchist-anarcho-syndicalist-communist/) [E.L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow-2/) > [If you can't see that the glass is half full, you can never be a socialist. You have to believe in the goodness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/if-you-can-t-see-that-the-glass-is-half-full-you-can-never-be-a/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [“Half the world is screaming for water and freedom when the other half is ordering cocktails and complaining about the service.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-docx/half-the-world-is-screaming-for-water-and-freedom-when-the-other-half/) [Edward Docx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-docx/) > [Take away fear, and the battle of Freedom is half won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/take-away-fear-and-the-battle-of-freedom-is-half-won/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [We stand committed to the proposition that freedom is no half-and-half affair. If the average citizen is guaranteed equal opportunity in the polling place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/we-stand-committed-to-the-proposition-that-freedom-is-no-half-and/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The royalists of the economic order have conceded that political freedom was the business of the government, but they have maintained that economic slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-royalists-of-the-economic-order-have-conceded-that-political/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [We have more guns in our country than citizens. I think we could with maybe 100 million fewer guns. And I think we'd be OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-wright/we-have-more-guns-in-our-country-than-citizens-i-think-we-could-with/) [Jeffrey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-wright/) > [As a global society we are performing a great experiment on ourselves. Half of the world population wants to race faster into the future.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-saffo/as-a-global-society-we-are-performing-a-great-experiment-on-ourselves/) [Paul Saffo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-saffo/) > [The idea of not getting a gun is not because I'm afraid of guns, it's not because I think guns are wrong, it's because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/the-idea-of-not-getting-a-gun-is-not-because-i-m-afraid-of-guns-it-s/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [When I think about what we need to do, we have 33,000 people a year who die from guns. I think we need comprehensive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-i-think-about-what-we-need-to-do-we-have-33-000-people-a-year/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I hate guns, I think they're the worst thing ever invented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-hauer/i-hate-guns-i-think-they-re-the-worst-thing-ever-invented/) [Rutger Hauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-hauer/) > [ I think that we should ban so-called junk guns. I think we should ban assault weapons like the weapons used here \[in Fort Worth\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-think-that-we-should-ban-so-called-junk-guns-i-think-we-should-ban/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [“They got guns, but we got brains. I like those odds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/they-got-guns-but-we-got-brains-i-like-those-odds/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [Before my father would open up a karate school in a particular neighborhood, he'd clean up the block - kick all the drug dealers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/before-my-father-would-open-up-a-karate-school-in-a-particular/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [We've got to get guns out of the hands of people who should not have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-ve-got-to-get-guns-out-of-the-hands-of-people-who-should-not-have/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by Matthew Bracken > [“National security was invoked so freely that the First Amendment had become an empty promise. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/national-security-was-invoked-so-freely-that-the-first-amendment-had/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“sighed in resignation, having long since given up on today’s youth and their utter historical illiteracy, a product of their deliberate educational brainwashing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/sighed-in-resignation-having-long-since-given-up-on-today-s-youth-and/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“Even in a revolutionary movement, most people are like sheep.  They are naturally afraid, and like sheep, they have to be led.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/even-in-a-revolutionary-movement-most-people-are-like-sheep-they-are/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“It was Che’s dictum that it was better to execute one hundred innocent men, than to allow one clever traitor to live to challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/it-was-che-s-dictum-that-it-was-better-to-execute-one-hundred/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“All of these new “Big Brother” laws had been sold under the guise of combating terrorism and increasing security, but none of them dared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/all-of-these-new-big-brother-laws-had-been-sold-under-the-guise-of/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“In reality, there was no truly free press in America anymore,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/in-reality-there-was-no-truly-free-press-in-america-anymore/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“watched in mounting frustration, as the perversely named Patriot Acts (One and Two) had become law.  Then came the Total Information Awareness program, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/watched-in-mounting-frustration-as-the-perversely-named-patriot-acts/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“Gun control was never about safety: it was just about taking power away from ordinary Americans,” said Carson.  “It’s to make it safe for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/gun-control-was-never-about-safety-it-was-just-about-taking-power/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) > [“Unknown to the sleeping family, three of their cell phones had been covertly switched on, providing the STU with interior audio listening devices paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/unknown-to-the-sleeping-family-three-of-their-cell-phones-had-been/) [Matthew Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) [Explore all 10 Matthew Bracken quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If we gave up our freedom as the price of security, we would no longer be the great nation that we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/if-we-gave-up-our-freedom-as-the-price-of-security-we-would-no-longer/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [We live in the greatest country in the world because of the veterans who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/we-live-in-the-greatest-country-in-the-world-because-of-the-veterans/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [“No one was more surprised than I to realize that my newfound freedom had been purchased by giving up on eternity and settling for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-jessop/no-one-was-more-surprised-than-i-to-realize-that-my-newfound-freedom/) [Carolyn Jessop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-jessop/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“In any case, white people, who had robbed black people of their liberty and who profited by this theft every hour that they lived,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/in-any-case-white-people-who-had-robbed-black-people-of-their-liberty/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [“It breaks my heart. Better than your words, your eye tells me all your peril. You are not yet free, you still search for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-breaks-my-heart-better-than-your-words-your-eye-tells-me-all-your/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) [Browse all 30,110 Freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“America really is two countries today.  One half still loves freedom, and the other half’s already socialist, even if they don’t call it that—yet.  The free half is keeping them from going all the way to having the kind of socialist government they want, but they can’t quite shove us out of the way while we’ve got so many guns.  I think that’s really what all this is about: once they’ve got our guns, they’ll just pass all their damn socialist laws.  They’ll just increase our taxes until we’re like Sweden, and if we don’t like it, tough shit.  Anybody that fights back will get a free ride to a special camp for problem children.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Bracken" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/america-really-is-two-countries-today-one-half-still-loves-freedom/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Freedom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/america-really-is-two-countries-today-one-half-still-loves-freedom/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/matthew-bracken-42626_freedom_america-really-is-two-countries-today-on_2809496.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/matthew-bracken-42626_freedom_america-really-is-two-countries-today-on_2809496.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/matthew-bracken-42626_freedom_america-really-is-two-countries-today-on_2809496.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“America really is two countries today. One half still loves freedom, and the other half’s already socialist…” — Matthew Bracken", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matthew Bracken", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-bracken/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“America really is two countries today. ...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/america-really-is-two-countries-today-one-half-still-loves-freedom/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-bracken/america-really-is-two-countries-today-one-half-still-loves-freedom/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```