Poll: Four in Five Americans Would Give Up Some Freedom for More Security (MORON ALERT)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Four in five Americans would give up some freedoms to gain security and four in 10 worry terrorists will harm them or their family, a new Gallup poll shows.

About one-third of those polled favor making it easier for authorities to access private e-mail and telephone conversations. More than 70 percent are in favor of requiring U.S. citizens to carry identification cards with fingerprints, and 77 percent believe all Americans should have smallpox vaccinations.

"It was amazing the percentage of people who are willing to give up freedom to get back some sense of personal security," said Elaine Christiansen, senior research director for The Gallup Organization. "These aren't people who were necessarily near the twin towers, near the Pentagon, near the Murrah building. These are average people."

The telephone survey, conducted in March, included 934 people across the country. Researchers also polled about 500 people in each of three cities where terrorist attacks occurred - New York City, Washington, D.C., and Oklahoma City - to compare results with the general population survey.

The poll showed 8 percent of Americans are very worried and 31 percent are somewhat worried that they or someone in their family will become victims of a terrorist attack in the United States. In New York City, the level of worry is higher - 19 percent said they are very worried and 34 percent said they are somewhat worried.

Washington, D.C, and Oklahoma City reported levels of fear close to the national average.

Scientists involved in the poll said they were not surprised many Americans remain fearful after Sept. 11.

"The magnitude of the event was just so profound," said Carol North, a psychiatry professor at Washington University in St. Louis, who said talk of the war in Afghanistan, airline security and terrorist threats is propelling the fear.

The study was co-sponsored by The University of Oklahoma psychiatry department through a grant from the Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism. The main survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points, while the margin of error for the survey in the three cities is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Meanwhile, a New York Times/CBS News poll found that 60 percent of New York City residents think the threat of a terrorist attack in their city is greater than it is in any other big city.

Barely 40 percent of respondents believe the city is safer than it had been four years ago, a decrease of 20 percent from those polled in August. Even so, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said that given a choice, they would prefer to be living in the city four years from now than any other place.

The poll, conducted by telephone in English or Spanish June 4 through Sunday, surveyed 940 adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

I have recieved three (3) FReepmail letters that tell me you will argue until you have the last word and that facts will not move you. One suggested I just quit any debate you engage in, and I believe that may be the best course.

Only three? lol And what three FReepers might those be?

I guess, you always do what others tell you to do. What can I say. As for the facts. On FreeRepublic there are many facts, some real, some fabricated. And remember, there are as many opinions on FreeRepublic, as there are facts. Getting facts and opinions confused, is a mistake many people make around here.

I'll leave you with a quote too.

When you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer. S.Wonder

A word to wise is sufficient. Don't join the mob of misfits and malcontents on FreeRepublic. Be a good American and a good FReeeper. Be an individual first.

The key word in bold below:

I think there is drugs in your house. I'm the feds. Mind if I search. If you are a good little sheep, you'll let me search since you don't have anything to hide.

Given the power to search your home without notifying you, and the vague wording of the Act when it comes to what warrants (no pun intended) a search, there is nothing stopping them from "checking up" on anyone they deem a problem.

Most of these people, like Reagan Man, obviously haven't made an effort to actually READ and digest what's in the PATRIOT Act.

It is worth repeating that 1) some of the most intrusive provisions of the Act, such as sneak-and-peek, are not subject to sunset, and 2) apply to any criminal investigation, not just terrorism

Something else bears repeating: Just because you're happy with the current administration and their policies, remember that it may not always be that way. Hmm, do all of your guns have trigger-locks? Got a license for grandpa's souvenir German machine gun? The feds under Hillary want to know. Don't worry, we'll be in and out before you know it. After all, you've got nothing to hide right?

Now I see your problem, lack of logic!

No lack of logic and no lack of anything else for that matter. I was just using your own words. If you're telling me now, that you have the ability to think for yourself and not listen to the mob of misfits and malcontents here on FreeRepublic, I say more power to you.

>>>I will not give up ONE INCH of my freedom for your security.

I'm not asking you to. In fact your freedom and security means nothing to me.

>>> 6'2", 240#, concealed handgun carrying, mean as hell Texan, PRAYING I end up on an airplane with a terrorists. That extra pair of socks and two rolls of quarters in my briefcase will become lodged in his head!

Are you this mad at the world, all the time?

Just because you're happy with the current administration and their policies, remember that it may not always be that way.

Let's take that thought one step further. The most vocal of the Bush supporters are telling us that the War On Terror is so serious that we must sacrifice even some rights to win it. They are also telling us that we should be thankful the GOP is running the show because the democRATS would probably make a mess of it and we'd all end up dying. So my question to them ... one that they seem to be avoiding ... is this.

If the situation is as grave as they say and the DNC so incompetent or corrupt, why don't they suggest the obvious ... that the GOP do whatever is necessary to stay in power and win the war. Afterall, the Bush administration and GOP are ALREADY ignoring serious election law violations by the democRATS. Why not just extend that to ignore election law violations by the GOP ... so they can remain at the helm?

>>>You have spent this whole thread advocating trading liberty for security.

Wrong! I said American's have to make sacrifices for the good of the country. I said you can't have freedom without security and you can't have liberty without safety. America is at war and all patriotic American's have to chip in and help out all they can. People like you, believe this is business as usual. Well, its not. Get off your arse and make a diiference and stop all the whining.

You haven't supplied one remark I've made that supports your contention, that I believe the Founding Fathers aren't good role models. NOT ONE! That makes you a liar.

>>>Calm down, spaz-boy!
...certifiable nut-case

No logic, no rationale, no intelligence, just ad hominem attacks. The last refuge of a scoundrel.

That was rationale! Thanks for none of the name calling that has been accompanying so many comments on threads recently!

First off, I do believe at this point in our history that you cannot just hide your head in the sand and say that everything should be the same. I don't see one item that has been passed that has affected me personally and I don't think I am an unusual case. None of my neighbors have been affected either unless you count standing hours in line to get your baggage and person checked!

This Administration is trying to figure out what to do right now to protect the American citizens while still not taking away our freedoms. I have this unusual idea that the foreigners who are here at our pleasure do not have the same rights as American citizens. If they don't like that idea, then they should go home.

As for profiling, personally it has been around for years and is not going to go away -- in fact, when it come to passenger travel they should be doing more profiling IMHO -- been there, done that! Security risks board planes because of PC and paperwork -- ordinary white Americans get the full treatment of search.

Believe that Ashcroft is doing everything possible to see that we are all protected and I do not believe he will break the law to do so. John Ashcroft has always been a man of the uptmost integrity and anyone that breaks the law that works for him IMO will be severely dealt with.

As for the laws clinton broke, please don't even bother to bring that up unless you want to tank the Republicans in total if they followed through on your wishes. Clinton will get his someday, but to go back and indict him for crimes he committed, you will probably never even get a jury to indict him nor convict him in D.C. It isn't going to happen. The press has protected him for so long that to go after him would be spinning the wheels of the Government and we don't need that at this point in time.

Maybe I look at things differently -- I have been to the Bombing Memorial in OKC and toured the Museum countless times with people here visiting. It makes you stop and think that this Administration needs to do everything possible to make sure another terrorists attack doesn't happen. But then I am in favor of setting up checkpoints for drinking or drugs while driving. I am not a Libertarian, will never be a Libertarian, and don't agree with most of what they stand for. My rights are just as important as yours -- no more -- no less! Some Liberatarians on here would have you believe that their way is the only way and they know the Constitution completely and better than anyone else. Well I thought I knew it pretty good until I went to the Find Law site to research it -- sure opened my eyes.

I believe in making my voice heard to members of Congress and at the ballot box. I get out and work for the best candidate but I have yet to agree with any candidate or leader 100% of the time. If I did, then I most likely would not be thinking.

Remember the President is the President of All the people of this Great Country and he does what he thinks is best for all. We may not always agree with him and some not at all, but one thing you can say about President Bush is that he is a man of integrity. He was my Governor when I lived in Texas and I have supported him since 1994. I have seen what he can do to make things better in a State and I believe all of you will be surprised just how he will be viewed as President during this time of crises. I also have J.C. Watts, Jr., as my Congressman, and Senators Nickles and Inhofe as my Senators -- people that I admire and respect.

I believe I live in the Greatest Country in the World -- not a perfect Country, but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

I think the poll is wrong. I think the real number is higher than 80%. Sheeple bleeting for big daddy gooberment to "save them". It's amazing how cowardly the average American really is. I guess it has to do with most having lived such sheltered,protected lives. One local restaurant owner is a Greek from NYC,and her husband is a Greek citizen. They have a son 18 years old,and after hearing this cretin rant and rave about how "we're gonna kick Muslim ass!" over and over,I happened to ask her son if he had registered for the draft. She went ballistic! She told me the draft wasn't in effect anymore,and if her son were drafted,she would send him to Greece to live with relatives. When I asked her how he would be able to live in Greece,she told me "I taught him how to speak Greek before I taught him how to speak English. It is his native language." This woman was born and grew up in NYC,and claims to know people who died in the WTC. She was gung-ho for flying teeth,hair and eyeballs,untill it was suggested somebody in HER family take part. I'm sorry to say I think this is typical American "screw YOU,ME first!" behavior.

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