"Anyone who would give up a little liberty for a little security would lose both and deserve neither."

Question

Do you agree with this quote? Why or why not? Is it being evidenced in America? How?

Answer 1

Those willing to give up a little liberty for a little security deserve neither security nor liberty.
- Benjamin Franklin

I agree. The way in which it is being evidenced in America is screamingly obvious.

Answer 2

Sure I agree with it. Like, how does it make sense to ban liquids on planes? You're giving up a pretty basic right for a stupid security risk that didn't even turn out to be a problem. There's a bunch of yap about bombs on planes--there's only been like, one major bomb (the one over Lockerbie) in decades, but there are all these stupid security issues in airports because of...9/11? They didn't use bombs! They should have been caught by good old fashioned gumshoe detective work--find the criminals and remove them from society! The biggest explosion killer on a plane since Lockerbie was a door that was closed improperly that killed 9 people. A door? Not a bomb? A *door*? That's the biggest risk? So why are there all these bomb threats? Stop trying to find the bombs and concentrate on finding the bombers! But noooo, honest people are getting trapped in airport security because then it looks like the FAA is "tough on crime." Hogwash! It's an overreaction that's diverting attention from the actual problem! By security standards, the 9/11 "bombers" would have made it on the planes--they used the planes themselves as "bombs". So what's the deal with all the "security" measures? Sounds like a big waste of time and money that could be better spent chasing criminals.

You just have to deal with a little bit of risk in the world, because it's not worth giving up your freedom to gain a little security. Less freedom means Big Brother's coming. And if you can't see that Big Brother's coming when liberty is compromised, then you deserve to live in the 1984 world with all its security measures.

Answer 3

A variant of the Ben Franklin quote: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to get a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

I agree with that sentiment. I think our government is doing more harm to use as a nation every day than terrorists ever could.

Answer 4

"those could provide up slightly liberty to achieve slightly safe practices deserve neither and lose both".. that's only a neat, little saying - and that is all. you've taken the time to actual study it and are available away a hell of lots wiser than someone who could merely take it at face value. you're literally best - if we are no longer protect - our liberties will be tutorial. There are merely too many skill hungry psychos contained in the international who look to imagine that's their destiny and start acceptable to rule the international. they couldn't be skipped over at the same time as we squabble over the suited undemanding strategies to maintain our liberty.

Answer 5

Coragryph did everyone a huge service by providing the real quote.
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
-Benjamin Franklin

I partially agree with that statement. Many, perhaps most, common people do not understand, perhaps are incapable, the consequences of their actions. In such cases I do not believe it would be just to take Liberty or Safety. However, for those who willingly with understanding give up essential liberty for safety, they deserve the results of their choice and will have neither Libery or Safety.

Epicurus might suggest that liberty and security are one and the same:
"Those who possess the power to defend themselves against threats by their neighbors, being thus in possession of the surest guarantee of security, live the most pleasant life with one another;"
If power is defined as:
"The ability or capacity to perform or act effectively." (dictionary.com)
and Liberty as:
"The condition of being free from restriction or control."
Power is perhaps so closely related to libery that it is not even a separate thing. Power can not exist without liberty. There are always those who would suppress one's liberties unless one's liberty is protected by power. Therefore, those who give up liberty willingly also give up power and security. Such who do this with full knowledge have entered into agreement with their enslavers. They would be thus protected as long as such protection is beneficial to the enslaving party and likewise in a worse state when their protection is not beneficial to the enslaving party.

Answer 6

That is one of my favorite quotes because it is true and it is happening as we speak. By giving up our liberties we are giving up our country and what it stands for. Security from who? Terrorists who got lucky on 911 because the people who are in charge of this so called security were not doing their job, and now they want to provide more at the cost of additional freedoms, I dont buy it! By losing liberties we lose to the terrorists, those who dont understand this are not paying attention and need a lesson in american history. We have security, what we need is accountability and people in charge who are competent to do the job.

Answer 7

Amazing quote. And considering when it was written, it's even more amazing how it spans the test of time. So apt...APT I say! Security is such a relative thing anyway, mostly what we are giving up in liberties is the "idea" we're safer with what we give up...in actuallity, who knows how much more secure we all really are. And this whole color-coded 'alert' system, how is THAT applicable to anything other than the level of fear through the use of media it can instill?

Answer 8

It is absolutely true. If someone can take a little bit of freedom from you then they will think they can take more and more away. This is what Hitler did when he came to power, he slowly changed German society piece by piece over a number of years, so that no change was too big, but still achieved his aims. A similar sort of thing is happening in Britain and America - many fundamental rights (such as to be charged when arrested, and recieve a lawyer) have been taken away for terrorist suspects. Who's to say they won't soon be taken away for more people as well?

Answer 9

I don't think on the wide spread we're losing liberties, but the growing number of "restrictions" warrants my concerns. I think we have empowered the wrong people to make and pass laws on the local, state---and Federal levels and feel that we may one day see a reverse totaltarian society covering what once was a "free" nation flying the American flag.

Answer 10

Huh?? Yeah, I prefer not to be blow up over the ocean. I'll give up my carry on bag. I don't want them coming into my house to search for liquids but I don't mind my purse at the airport. Give me a break. That whole don't tread on my liberty thing just gets too carried away. The government looses both ways 1. don't touch my rights and 2. why didn't you stop the terrorists in time. They can't protect us all the time but hey...if they know the airports are a target then they need to do what they can.