That he was completely disgusted with the kind of people who would trade liberty for security (cowards, basically).

Actually, you should explain your statements on the two laws, since you’ve expressed your opinion, “doing some work and finding out for oneself” that is, research, wouldn’t necessarily “jive” with your opinions. The responsibility in civil debate rests on the speaker of an opinion to rationally justify it. By the by, in WW2 we were under martial law and committed innocent (japanese) citizens to concentration camps. I think you are a casualty of simple thinking in this respect. I think far more concerning than these two laws are the general atmosphere of the times that is characterized by a lack of engagement, discourse, and intellectual activity. I am disgusted by the popularity of a certain type of vain and self-serving christianity, fundamentalism, the dominance of party politics, and the control of special interests over the entire political system. These laws are not the cause of any curtailing of liberties, but only the symptoms of a more dire illness threatening the life of our open and free society.

Freedom has risks associated with it. It has a price. Freedom isn’t free, as you have probably heard.

The “cost” of freedom is security, according to Franklin.

If you are willing to trade freedom for security, you will have neither (because safety is an illusion created for you by your government).

That if you are willing to give up freedom to the government in exchange for security, then you are giving away the power of the people.

We Americans have already done it though. No going back now. Big Brother is slowly taking over.

You can’t be completely free and completely safe, it’s an oxymoron. I don’t know how old you are or if you remember when this used to be a free country. Benjamin Franklin is spinning in his grave. Thanks alot George W, 200+ years flushed down the crapper in 8 years!!!!!!

I think what he actually meant was people who would give up the freedom to choose for security…dont deserve to have either. Do you understand now? Hope that helps……

He meant that the Patriot Act is the first step toward losing all the freedoms we fought for over the history of our nation!

“You would be a fool to give up your freedom in exchange for protection.”

Here’s the layman’s terms for ya! Best of luck!!