Call me a fool for freedom


Why I OPPOSE sacrificing civil liberties
Scroll down on this one to the headline Rational Fools.

Wisdom entails not only rationality but also due regard for human feeling. In this regard, civil-liberties absolutists seem totally oblivious. Fear is the enemy of civil liberties. If America suffers another terrorist attack on the scale of 9/11, Americans will become more fearful--a reaction that is not entirely irrational--and civil liberties will become more vulnerable. Civil libertarians' lack of concern with preventing terrorism may be "entirely rational," but it sure is foolish.

Sacrificing civil liberties to defend against terrorism is a sure path to tyranny.

Granted, my definition of civil liberties will differ from a progressive view. Rationally I've no problem with killing someone if it is the only way to defend myself, or if it is the only way to stop someone from causing even greater harm. Life. liberty, and the pursuit of happiness sounds like a pretty good deal to me, so long as it doesn't mess with anyone else.

But there is no reason to force grandmothers into invasive body searches to secure that freedom.

There is no reason to confiscate cash if someone has not been charged with a crime. And there is damn little reason to take property even if someone HAS been charged.

There is no reason why every financial transaction has to be reported to the FedGovs, even if there is no warrant.

I demand liberty.

People are free. Not because their government tells them what rights they have, but because they choose to be free.

It really is that simple. And I am not the first to say it. Emphasis added.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

A just government has no other reason to exist save to protect the rights of the individual.

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— NeoWayland

Posted: Thu - August 31, 2006 at 05:34 AM  Tag


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