Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Liberty Is Overrated--Safety Should Be Our First Concern*
Ever Vigilant ^ | 06-19-2002 | Lee R. Shelton IV

Posted on 06/19/2002 11:33:59 AM PDT by sheltonmac

Those worrying about the erosion of liberty in this time of crisis often quote Benjamin Franklin, who said, "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." The problem with this advice is that it is well over two centuries old, and no one back then could have imagined the dangers we face today. We are at war and should be expected to sacrifice some liberty for safety.

According to a national poll taken recently by the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, seven out of 10 Americans said that they would give up at least some of their civil liberties to improve security. That shouldn't be at all surprising considering the magnitude of the terrorist threat to our nation as well as the rest of the free world.

The same poll showed that about 90 percent of Americans favor having more police assigned to patrol public areas. 70 percent believe that there should be a law requiring adults to carry a national ID card with their photograph and Social Security number, and roughly half support the idea of random police searches in public places.

It is clear that most of America is behind the president in his effort to eradicate terrorism. The few individuals who are not seem to be those who are clinging too tightly to their precious Constitution. They refuse to give up even the smallest right, when doing so might mean the difference between victory and defeat.

These people, whether they realize it or not, are the terrorists' strongest allies in this war. Any attempt to detract from the plans of our president and his administration is tantamount to treason. If they can't learn the concept of "go along to get along," they need to be silenced. This war needs to be won-no matter what the cost.

When terrorists attacked our shores on Sept. 11, the fear-mongers immediately launched into their tirades against U.S. foreign policy, particularly our support for Israel. They talked about how the actions of our "empire" fueled the hatred of Islamic fundamentalists and how we should adopt a more isolationist position on global matters. All this, of course, is nonsense.

While the United States may have been able to avoid foreign entanglements at one time, we must realize that this is the 21st Century. This is not the world our forefathers knew. The Constitution may have been good enough for a fledgling nation 200 years ago, but we must evolve beyond such a narrow worldview if we hope to remain a global superpower.

Ronald Reagan once called us to be a "city on a hill," a place upon which all eyes of the world would be cast. If we allow a dusty old document like the Constitution to prevent us from doing what is necessary, we shall lose the respect of those who look to our nation as an example of greatness. No, we must maintain our lofty position in the world, and if that means behaving like an empire, so be it. The only alternative would be to succumb to terrorism, and that cannot be an option.

We need to be more positive. We need to be more supportive of our government, especially now. The president should not be criticized for doing his duty as Commander in Chief. Yet, through it all, there are those who not only see the glass of liberty as half-empty, they see it as the wrong beverage. This unpatriotic attitude was evident when President Bush signed the Patriot Act into law.

I feel I should point out that when President Bush signed the Patriot Act, he was doing what nearly half of all registered voters who actually bothered to vote elected him to do-lead. The people of this nation wanted a leader with an iron resolve and this president has shown that he is the man for the job. Rather than get behind the spirit of the Patriot Act, some disgruntled people would rather focus on the ambiguous aspects of the legislation and live in fear of the worst-case scenario.

As the poll above shows, this administration is merely doing the will of the people. Doing anything else would not bode well for the GOP this November. It would also hurt the president's chances of getting re-elected in 2004, and ensuring his re-election is absolutely vital to winning this war on terror. No other politician has shown such dedication and strength of character. Honestly, I shudder to imagine where this country would be without President Bush at the helm.

To those who insist on holding firm to the Constitution and making the government's job harder than it has to be, let me remind you that WE ARE AT WAR. Get behind the president and show your support. All of your worries are unfounded. If history is any indication, every civil liberty you give up now will be promptly restored once this war is over. That's a promise.

Liberty is overrated. Safety is what counts during times of crisis. After all, how can liberty be enjoyed if one cannot feel safe?


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220 ... 261-264 next last
To: Fithal the Wise
But those of you who are unwilling to effectively deal with potentially horrendous consequences - will you still feel the same after another 10,000 deaths? ...

HELL YEAH


181 posted on 06/19/2002 7:07:27 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: stillbornagain
I don't like the phrasing "Liberty is Overrated" stillbornagain. It is flippant and disrespectful as I read that.
But when the monsters are at the gate, we do what we must to prevent them from winning or we will have nothing left.
Terrorists are causing us to be cautious and to cover our weaknesses.
Some will feel their privacy is violated. For an innocent that is terrible, but if that process catches a bad guy before he kills a few thousand people, I will learn to live with it for a while.
182 posted on 06/19/2002 7:08:32 PM PDT by A CA Guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 167 | View Replies]

To: A CA Guy
We will always have our respect for Liberty. We should not obsess over the purity of what we want at the expense of our own extinction.

Can you please explain how giving up our freedoms with the Patriot Act(Know your customer, Secret Searches, out-of-district judges making decisions, etc) will help us in this war.

Besides, until CONGRESS officially declares war, any freedom as far as I'm concerned is non-negotiable. If we are at war, declare war, none of this half assed stuff.

183 posted on 06/19/2002 7:10:41 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 85 | View Replies]

To: A CA Guy
But safety is our first concern

No, it's YOUR first concern, not mine.

184 posted on 06/19/2002 7:11:40 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Dan from Michigan
The burden level to search and listen were lowered Dan so they could take more instant action, rather than be tied down in a court by the ACLU while another 3 or 4 thousand die.

It would be wonderful if we didn't need all this.

Do you have suggestions as to how America can monitor the bad guys without listening to quite a few good ones in the process? Because if you have a gem of an idea, the country would love to have and implement it.
185 posted on 06/19/2002 7:18:24 PM PDT by A CA Guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 183 | View Replies]

To: Washington_minuteman
the principle of the "three-S's".

Here in the Big CIty of Milwaukee, we know from the "three S's."

Of course, that's the ones of us who go deer hunting in Northern Wisconsin, where the "three S's" were employed by Capone's boys, as well as EVERYONE who doesn't want Wisconsin's Dept of Natural Resources nosing around.

Matter of fact, lots of us have small crawlers with cable-winches. Eliminates the 2nd of the 3 S's. Instead of all that manual labor, you place the cable around a large pine, pull w/the dozer (only a few feet,) place the package under the middle of the partly-uprooted pine, and back the dozer so the tree is replaced.

Unhook the winch, replace the dozer in the barn, and have a few brew-skis.

186 posted on 06/19/2002 7:20:55 PM PDT by ninenot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: sheltonmac
The problem with this advice is that it is well over two centuries old

The few individuals who are not seem to be those who are clinging too tightly to their precious Constitution.

Any attempt to detract from the plans of our president and his administration is tantamount to treason. If they can't learn the concept of "go along to get along," they need to be silenced.

The Constitution may have been good enough for a fledgling nation 200 years ago, but we must evolve beyond such a narrow worldview if we hope to remain a global superpower.

If we allow a dusty old document like the Constitution to prevent us from doing what is necessary, we shall lose the respect of those who look to our nation as an example of greatness.

This is either tongue-in-cheek or written by a lunatic.

187 posted on 06/19/2002 7:21:10 PM PDT by metesky
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dan from Michigan
Not being taken over by enemies and eradicated is the concern.
You are dealing with people that want you and I dead. They have no desire to negotiate a peace.
If you ignore them, they will not go away.

It concerns us all.
188 posted on 06/19/2002 7:22:59 PM PDT by A CA Guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 184 | View Replies]

To: A CA Guy
If you secret search my house if I'm around, you are an intruder and will be treated accordingly.

If they have probably cause for a secret search, get a warrant first. And why can't they use a local judge. I see "Alcee Hastings"(former judge) all over again here. Get one friendly judge and go around the others.

It would be wonderful if we didn't need all this.
We don't.

BTW - Under the unpatriotic Act, govt can steal my property without a conviction if I'm a suspectic terrorist, and I'd have to use 'affirmative defense' to get it back. Prove my innocence. That's unAmerican.

I see NOTHING in that bill where lives can be saved.

189 posted on 06/19/2002 7:23:16 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 185 | View Replies]

To: G.Mason
Is he still dead?

Yup.

And his IQ is exactly the same as when he was alive.

190 posted on 06/19/2002 7:23:20 PM PDT by ninenot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: A CA Guy
Not being taken over by enemies and eradicated is the concern.
That is a concern. I have my guns to protect me over here. Now we need to eradicate the bad guys out in Saudi Arabia and where ever else they are, and why isn't Bush letting Israel taking take out the terrorist there?

You are dealing with people that want you and I dead. They have no desire to negotiate a peace.
I don't want a peace either. I Want them dead, and our freedoms here in tact. It's not a one or the other situation.

191 posted on 06/19/2002 7:25:49 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 188 | View Replies]

To: Dan from Michigan
That is your view and we just don't agree. But I enjoy hearing your view. Thanks.
192 posted on 06/19/2002 7:28:42 PM PDT by A CA Guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 189 | View Replies]

To: A CA Guy
how to legally avoid paying that much tax.

Did somebody forget to put all the buttons on your elevator controls?

Look at the reliable published statistics.

IN FACT, Americans on the average pay about 51% of their income in taxes.

The cost of regulations (also paid by consumers) adds another 10% or so--possibly more, but not much more.

Do you REALLY think that GM does not recover its tax liabilities from automobile purchasers?

And, by the way, I work with one of the better tax guys in this metro area. Ain't no way around sales tax, gasoline tax, nor MOST personal (Fed/State) income taxes--nor around property taxes.

What's left to avoid?

193 posted on 06/19/2002 7:31:27 PM PDT by ninenot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 121 | View Replies]

To: G.Mason
He is the type that gives conservatives a bad name. Personally I think he should be freeped because he claims to be a conservative.
194 posted on 06/19/2002 7:35:20 PM PDT by Steve Van Doorn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Dan from Michigan
BTW, it is becoming clearer that the vast majority of the 'terrorists' are rather stupid. ShoeBomb is not an intellectual giant, nor is the Chicago gangster-type who did everything but leave yellow ribbons to mark his trail.

So if this is true, what's the big worry??

195 posted on 06/19/2002 7:43:07 PM PDT by ninenot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 181 | View Replies]

To: ninenot
There's always a concern, but I do not see how giving up our freedoms is going to help us.

I won't let them let me give up my freedoms ANYWAY. If we do that, they win. The terrorists hate freedom.

196 posted on 06/19/2002 7:45:52 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 195 | View Replies]

To: Dan from Michigan
You can't protect your home in such a primitive manner unless it is a manned army at the door.
They will explode a near by nuclear plant and give you a tan line you can't shoot at Dan.
They might poisoning your water and as you choke to death you can't shoot the poison as well.
They might drive next to a big school and use a big bomb to blow out the whole school killing all your children (God Forbid).

I think that is totally disgusting, but it is what we are facing if we don't let the spies and intelligence branches go at it.

Even with the current laws we are not 100% safe.
I equally share your frustration on this topic.

Israel has a tough problem. If they just unleash themselves against the other side it will be called genocide and murder of what innocent people there could be there.
I think it is a step in the right dirrection when they take land away from them for each violent act now.

If lucky they will have 3 million Palestinians on a pice of land soon only the size of a Wal-Mart parking lot.
197 posted on 06/19/2002 7:51:47 PM PDT by A CA Guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 191 | View Replies]

To: ninenot
clearer that the vast majority of the 'terrorists' are rather stupid.

mabey that's the only ones our leos can catch....


198 posted on 06/19/2002 7:53:24 PM PDT by THEUPMAN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 195 | View Replies]

To: Dan from Michigan
Here is a link to more I stated about Israel Dan on the same subject.
http://www.freerepublic.com/fo cus/news/702669/posts?page=5#5
199 posted on 06/19/2002 7:54:16 PM PDT by A CA Guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 191 | View Replies]

To: ninenot
Divorce!
200 posted on 06/19/2002 7:55:46 PM PDT by A CA Guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 193 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220 ... 261-264 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson