[FeLiZeCaT]

http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-0402.html#1

quote from the end of the abovementionned link:

Ben Franklin once said: "Those who would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Since 9/11 Americans have squandered an enormous amount of liberty, and we didn't even get any temporary safety in return.
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[Dudaev's Corpse]

when I've been in The Great Satan, no police have come kicking down my door in the night; no jackbooted thugs dragging me away, only to 'disappear' me.

I imagine the citizens of the USA can corroborate with their own experiences.

[Millennium]

I wouldn't say we are quite yet, but we're definitely headed in that direction. Ashcroft is the real threat; Bush is only the frontman.

[gadster]

Originally posted by Dudaev's Corpse:
when I've been in The Great Satan, no police have come kicking down my door in the night; no jackbooted thugs dragging me away, only to 'disappear' me.

I imagine the citizens of the USA can corroborate with their own experiences.

Why would they pick on you? You are doing their work for them, for free!

Silly old you.

[Sven G]

Originally posted by FeLiZeCaT:
Ben Franklin once said: "Those who would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Yes, maybe (was he fully coherent with that?) - but it would be even better to say:

Those who would give up essential liberty for temporary safety could deserve more education (and self-consciousness, and...).

[dreilly1]

Most of the changes here in the U.S. seem to be driven by the CYA mentality that seems to be getting more pervasive all over the country. Doing simple things that would genuinely increase security are not as important as doing highly visible things that may actually make things worse, because when the next bad things happen, everyone in authority can say "see! It's not our fault. Look at all these Highly Visible things we've done! There's nothing more we could have done to avoid this." The whole five-level fruit-colored Terror Alert system is designed to be visible but not do a whole lot. (The increased security that gets triggered by that may be useful, but the alert system itself is not).

Take airline security. The single most important thing they've done is reinforce the cockpit doors. Not giving kids a tour of the cockpit is a small price to pay for genuine security. Most other things are window dressing, a show to convince the ordinary citizen that stuff is being done. It doesn't actually make us any safer, because someone out to cause mayhem can do plenty of damage with or without an improvised weapon.

My wife is concerned that on our next long international flight, they won't let her bring knitting needles on board. Odds are, anyone who could injure someine with a knitting needle is strong enough to injure you without it, too. And although it's on the list of TSA-approved items, apparently security screeners (especially in foreign countries) are under no obligation to honor that list. She doesn't want to take the risk that they'll confiscate her needles (and the knitting project on them!) on the way back.

[OldManMac]

Originally posted by Millennium:
I wouldn't say we are quite yet, but we're definitely headed in that direction. Ashcroft is the real threat; Bush is only the frontman.

Very succinct and to the point, and true!

[Secret__Police]

Originally posted by Millennium:
I wouldn't say we are quite yet, but we're definitely headed in that direction. Ashcroft is the real threat; Bush is only the frontman.

Please report to the nearest education center for interogation.