Liberty versus Security

[neilhavkin]

What are your opinions on the issue of liberty versus security? How much liberty would you be willing to give up for security?

This debate goes all the way back to the seventeen hundreds (in the United States) so I'll add a more modern twist:

Are our personal rights being curbed too excessively in the name of counter-terrorism? In my opinion, I think liberty is the first and foremost importance. Counter-terrorism legislation such as the PATRIOT Act does little to defend against terrorism while infringing on the rights of American citizens.

Huge info-graphic, incoming:



"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

- Benjamin Franklin

[Jon]

I've got nothing to hide, I'd rather feel secure, knowing myself and my family won't be killed by a terrorist act, than have my text messages and search history known to the Government; which they probably won't care about considering they're looking at everyone else.

[Alca]

But the point is that this has achieved nothing, and there's no proof that all this "security" has actually curbed terrorism in the slightest.

I hate government for a variety of reasons, but They have absolutely no right to spy on citizens. I personally take my privacy very seriously.

After reading 1984 I can't help but feel it's pretty accurate representation of where we're headed.

[Caleb]

But the point is that this has achieved nothing, and there's no proof that all this "security" has actually curbed terrorism in the slightest.

I hate government for a variety of reasons, but They have absolutely no right to spy on citizens. I personally take my privacy very seriously.

After reading 1984 I can't help but feel it's pretty accurate representation of where we're headed.

Probably because the information they get from spying is illegal information and they're not allowed to use it to persecute anyone. The only thing they can get from it are things like the way Osama was killed. We also don't necessarily know how much is really prevented so it could've actually had some pretty great effect to this day.

I don't know, I don't really care about much as long as it doesn't set the way even farther open for hackers to get free reign over just about anything on this planet that matters to us.