I spent a pleasant Thanksgiving with my family. The only unpleasantness was the airport security getting to and from my mom’s house. It seemed to me a reminder of how readily Americans these days are willing to give up their liberties for the appearance of a little security.
That is, I wasn’t so much upset with the measures themselves, which were merely annoying, as I was with the principle behind them. I don’t have much faith in the notion that we can be perfectly safe and also be a free people. And, if it comes down to it, I would rather be free than be completely safe.
But maybe that’s just me. What do you think?
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I want the best of both worlds, security with a modicum of privacy. Yeah, I know, don’t hold your breath.
Well, we can at least shoot for the best of both worlds.
I.m sorry to say ,but it seems that security have become good business.I might be cynical,but for security to survive,they have to scare the sh’t out of people and “invent danger” Just look at what Homeland Security is allowed to do,that’s not pretty.So yes I prefer freedom.
I certainly agree that security has become big business. And given that, it will be all the more difficult to reverse the trend.
I generally find the opposition to security measures a little over the top. I suppose I come from a culture where a much higher level of government influence, and so I find the intrusions here pretty minor. No big deal to me.
I can see how one’s expectations would play a large role in this. Good point!
Sorry for the typo. I meant to say that I come from a country where a much higher level of government influence is the norm.
To me, this is a false dichotomy. Let’s forget the somewhat trivial notion that nothing is perfectly safe. Is a lack of freedom necessarily safer? One of the potential benefits of freedom is that it can be used to correct error. When leaders err, freedom allows us to criticize and mobilize to correct the error.
Not knowing or being able to discuss what’s not safe isn’t the same thing as being safe.
Well said, Cujo359!
When you’re not free, you’re not safe, because the people who should be keeping you safe are no longer forced to do so.
They do a good job keeping the corporations safe. That seems to be about it.
Security practices at airports are ritualistic jokes as safety pretense. I’d like safety with freedom, but the real threats to security at airports are not at all addressed by the current practices of dissecting one person’s luggage at a time. The dangers are far more complex to address. The Mickey Mouse stuff is just show to make it look like they are doing something..
I agree, Squirrel. It’s a joke.
Excellent article! Freedom is about choice, and risk. There can be no freedom in a nanny state.