Do you think we should give up some civil liberties so the gov't can better protect us from our enemies?
824161
Sounds a bit socialist to me. \n\nOnce upon a time, there was a country called America, we fought wars on our own soil and we fought bravely. We were allowed to carry guns and protect ourselves and families. Now the government doesn't think we can protect ourselves or are brave enough to fight if nessasary. \n\nNo, just because you don't believe in the patriot act doesn't mean you are not a patriot. It means you feel you are brave enough to fight what comes along. They shouldn't be tapping US they should be tapping other countries!
425684
I speak from across the fence on this matter, but I will let you know what I hear most often. The Patriot Act that has broadened the government's ability to seek information from it's fellow citizens has left some more liberal voters upset. They feel that the government's noose of power has grown a bit tighter, and I assume they foresee a future government domination over the people of this nation. I do not know of any firsthand accounts where someone's privacy rights have been infringed upon, or violated. Not that I wish there was, but there doesn't seem to be anyone personally hurt by the Act. Personally, I've felt that as long as man would uphold his responsibilites to treat his fellow man with love, and respect there would be no need for government at all. But we both know that we fail to do this, therefore creating a need for government. So if the privilages we enjoy so dearly seem in danger, I believe it is because of our own faults. I hope that this has been helpful.
493153
Nobody can be completely secure.  Most of the terrorism in our country was planned and executed by our own government in order to begin the war on terrorism and take away more and more of our freedom...)(
1126763
Do you really think it's necessary? I don't, I think upholding our freedoms and civil liberties is pretty important, and worth the risk by most people's reckoning, I think the best way to fight terrorism is to have better control on who/what comes and goes in or out of our country, and not to do business with countries that give the money to support that garbage in the first place...oil's an issue in this question, and if more people were cognizant of the relationship between pressure on the throttle and money flowing to countries that support this kind of thing, I'll bet a lot of people would drive a lot slower....but, at the end of the day, there's people that don't like America, for whatever reason, and I'd just as soon see better border controls to keep em out. Including the airports...
522063
I agree with Ben Franklin on that. Liberty is our utmost human right, it is not interchangeable or up to be sold to whoever has enough money. I truly believe that our government has used scare tactics on us and staged terrorism and what not to convince us that we need their protection, but for this we need to hand over our liberty. That is truly criminal and unconstitutional, and so not what America stands for! And I know that if we hand over our freedom we will certainly regret it.
890980
I'll use the wisdom of the founding fathers on this one\nBenjamin Franklin: Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both\n\nhow amazing two thumbs down for a direct quote from Ben Franklin, I guess the people that gave those are part of the Hate America Crowd,amazing\n\nThe problem from things  Warrentless Wiretapping programs are that they are without scrutiny, all we need to is look back at history and remember how Nixon abused the power and privialge of office to understand these mechanisms cannot be fully trusted without judiciary and/or congressional oversight, who decides what an enemy combatant is, and where is the line going to be drawn, can I be declared an enemy combatant simply for excersing my free speech rights? Who determines this one man or many? ABUSE of power is the central concern of those opposed to these programs and there are consitutional remedies to make them more transaparent WITHOUT destroying there ability to function Raw power without oversight is always ripe for abuse and this is has a great deal of precedent, it was abuses of power afterall that lead to the birth of this nation and the concept of Democracy as we know it today
953044
Or as Thomas Paine said, We shall only remain the Land of the Free so long as we are also the Home of the Brave.\n\nI see I read your post differently than others did.  I assumed you were speaking of how the government is betraying us by not protecting our services and our rights against imposition through illegal immigration.
829735
I knew they had been doing it all along. Seriously I dont mean that to sound crazy, but I assumed the government monitored everything already. I heard along time ago from someone when I was a kid that they have super computers that filter all telephone conversations and certain words and phrases are flagged for follow up. Honestly they have always gone too far and it will never stop as long as there are people who are like well if I have nothing to hide what does it matter. If you are not willing to stand up and fight for the freedoms our forfathers died for you don't deserve them. If you are willing to give up those rights to keep you safe from a shadowy elusive terrorist you dont deserve them.
154424
I think there is a balance but Bush has overstepped that in favior of taking away our right to privacy in the name of the war on terror. Terrorism does exist however I think that if we give up rights then the terroist have won. We need to stick to the things in our constitution that made our country free and great.
736449
I'M  WITH YOU.\n\nAll these security measures that have been implemented to give us  "security" will one day be used to regulate and control us.\n\nDear old Benjamin Franklin once said, "Those who would surrender freedom for security deserve neither."\n\nThink about it. If a government or people in the background that influence a government was/were afraid the people may one day get fed up with them and stage a revolt what measures would they put into effect to prevent that?\n\n1) control their ability to move around quickly.  \nAirport security, travel records of buses and trains.   ID's.   There was even talk of a (GASP) NATIONAL ID!\n\n2) track all large money deposits.\nRequire banks to report anything larger than $5,000.  It would take money to stage a rebellion so tracking it would warn the government who is moving money where. They just get a warrant to search your property and find the tools of a revolt and lock you  up before you can do anything to get rid of the abusive bastards.\n\n3) Squash them like a bug. \nUse the military act to lock up suspected terrorists with NO trial and they NEVER see a lawyer.\n\nDo you realize that with the passage of the most recent law, the government can designate anyone (you) as a terrorist and lock them up forever?\n\n4) Use issues that will divide the people.\nThat will prevent them from working too closely together.  Abortion, gay rights, health care, and now the Iraq mess. That should hit about 95% of the population shouldn't it? Get them fighting, arguing amongst themselves so they don't concentrate on what is really happening in the background....\n\n5) Use cameras.\nSo we can watch who goes where and catch anyone talking against the beloved people in power.\n\n6) Pretend we don't mind if they have guns to defend themselves, but slowly learn who has them so they can be collected one day.\n\nGee does any of that sound familiar?\nIn the last five years all of that has been put into place. More regulation than in the whole 200+ years since this country declared independence.\n\nAmericans are about to be subjugated and they are too complacent to know it.
932839
all you idiots tell this person to shut up.... then ramble on about free speech. huh?\n I say yes it would help if you enjoy killing things (sadist). and as for defending My freedom.. by killing other people who also you are trying to 'free' .. you would have to be a nutcase to see the logic in that...
116644
It is ironical that we try to give privacy to each citizen at their homes, but choose not to do so for other countries. I believe that unless the country in concern is impacting us or any other country, we should leave them to resolve their internal issues unless they ask us for help.
820381
The government is (or was) established to protect the rights of the people, not to protect the people. Government is not a scam, even though most of it is a joke. I believe that our country could use a better government, not just locally, but nationally. We as a Nation and a state deserve a better government than we currently have. The government is trying to protect our rights, but we also have private domain (this includes areas of individual life that are of no business to the govt.) We have many freedoms, they just want to protect those rights.
559084
No.  You don't defeat the enemy by becoming the enemy, you don't spread democracy abroad by curtailing it at home, you don't pledge liberty and justice for all and then add "except for the following...", because then any of us could end up on that list.  Our justice system is and has always been stronger than any one criminal, and if they're truly guilty we lose nothing by giving them the protections of law--they'll be convicted anyway, and our reputation for true justice will be even greater.  If we rig the system, as most countries do, we may get revenge--but our moral authority will be lost.  As it has already begun to be...
41247
There is a price for our freedom and security. I will have to go with freedom. In freedom comes the security and stability our great nation needs. However we need to stand by the decisions that have been made. Children need to feel free and secure. And as parents we need to set that path for our future. Well the only way we can become the greatest nation is for us to pull our heads out of our 4th point of contact and really desire and respect the sanctaty of respect for our leader(s). How can we expect other nations to respect and to fear us when we dont respect our leader? We belittle him and make fun of him. Why? because we know that we can't make the right decision. This world is about damn if you do and damn if you don't. Either way someone isn't happy. As a nation we need to become one and support our freedom. Let those know that we are greatful for their sacrifices.
1161451
I fully agree with you. It's the republicans that have the problem. They don't want to give anybody civil liberties. The republicans will lose the house and the senate come election time. Hate to break it to the repubs but nobody wants you in control anymore. You screw it all up. \n\nDemocrats are taking america back.
638339
It's kind of a false dilemma.  Security and freedom can coexist, it just makes it a little harder.  I personally would rather be able to read, write, think, or say whatever I want without sanction than feel secure under surveillance.