Freedom vs Security

Those of us who have protested the Patriot Act have often been told we need to accept that things changed after 9-11 and that we are the ones who are over-reacting. After all, the reasoning goes out government isn't what we need to fear. Our government is only trying to protect us from external threats and if that means taking away a little of our freedom (which they argue the act does not do), the gain covers the loss.

Maybe one way to settle the question is to ask an outside observer, and there is probably no one in a better position to settle the dispute than our closest neighbor, Canada. So what are they saying? The Utne Reader (Jan-Feb '08) reports:

"Concerned about cyberspooks spying along their virtual border, Canadian officials have passed a series of provincial laws that require government institutions to protect private data from U.S. investigative agencies empowered by the Patriot Act."

If Canada can see that the Patriot Act authorizes unacceptable intrusion into its citizens' lives, why on earth can't Americans?

The bottom line is that no amount of security is worth the loss of one iota of freedom no matter what changed on 9-11. Giving up freedom in exchange for security might work as long as you can trust the government not to take advantage of the disempowered citizenry.

My contention, though, has been and will continue to be that every citizen's first duty is to doubt every statement his government leaders make and to watch closely enough to see to what extent the results of their actions matches the braggadocio of their speechmaking.

Barak Obama caught my attention this week with the statement that the first thing he would do if elected is to fight for the repeal of all of the Bush era legislation that his team determines to be unconstitutional or restrictive of America’s freedoms. I am going to start paying a little more attention to what he says – while watching to see to what extent . . .


Be the change you wish to see in the world. -- M. K. Gandhi

Individually we have little voice. Collectively we cannot be ignored.
But in silence we surrender our power. Yours in Peace -- BR

The reason for going was to keep the crude flowing and raise a false flag abroad. – from a poem by Jack Evans titled 3500 Souls - http://www.myspace.com/paralegal_eagle