[Captain Kirk]

Certainly...not because it will make us "freer than ever before." The story of the twentieth century (growth of regulations, government, restrictions on civil liberties, etc.) indicates just the opposite. If people want to embrace "empire" fine and daddy but they should at least be up front about describing the trade-offs.

[annalex]

growing numbers of people would rather make sure that airport security is rigid rather than have another 5,000 citizens dead.

Frisked and alive is freer than dead and unfrisked, no?