Comments on: Would You Like Some Freedom With Your Security, Sir? http://commentary.co.za/archives/2007/09/28/would-you-like-some-freedom-with-your-security-sir/ A weblog focussing on political, social, economic and technological issues both in South Africa and globally. Written from a moderate conservative-libertarian perspective with contributions by several authors who may not always agree with one another Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:31:16 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John http://commentary.co.za/archives/2007/09/28/would-you-like-some-freedom-with-your-security-sir/comment-page-1/#comment-15509 John Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:35:29 +0000 http://commentary.co.za/archives/2007/09/28/would-you-like-some-freedom-with-your-security-sir/#comment-15509 Rethabile, when those planes plunged into the WTC, I don't think they discriminated between black, white, muslim or christian. The same goes for constitutional rights. They're kinda universal. The social inequality in America and Europe is largely a social issue, not a global political one. Rethabile, when those planes plunged into the WTC, I don’t think they discriminated between black, white, muslim or christian.

The same goes for constitutional rights. They’re kinda universal. The social inequality in America and Europe is largely a social issue, not a global political one.

]]> By: Rethabile http://commentary.co.za/archives/2007/09/28/would-you-like-some-freedom-with-your-security-sir/comment-page-1/#comment-15508 Rethabile Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:27:36 +0000 http://commentary.co.za/archives/2007/09/28/would-you-like-some-freedom-with-your-security-sir/#comment-15508 "...the encroaching danger posed to liberty in western democracies in this day and age. Essentially, as the war on terror sees the development of more and more authoritarian powers of the state, the freedoms of the individual are ultimately becoming compromised." My correction: <i>the encroaching danger posed to <b>white people's</b> liberty in western democracies in this day and age. Essentially, as the war on terror sees the development of more and more authoritarian powers of the state, the freedoms of the individual <b>Caucasians</b> are ultimately becoming compromised.</i> Other people's liberties and freedoms are already corroded enough. And I'm talking about both Europe and America. “...the encroaching danger posed to liberty in western democracies in this day and age. Essentially, as the war on terror sees the development of more and more authoritarian powers of the state, the freedoms of the individual are ultimately becoming compromised.”

My correction: the encroaching danger posed to white people’s liberty in western democracies in this day and age. Essentially, as the war on terror sees the development of more and more authoritarian powers of the state, the freedoms of the individual Caucasians are ultimately becoming compromised.

Other people’s liberties and freedoms are already corroded enough. And I’m talking about both Europe and America.

]]> By: crake http://commentary.co.za/archives/2007/09/28/would-you-like-some-freedom-with-your-security-sir/comment-page-1/#comment-15504 crake Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:19:06 +0000 http://commentary.co.za/archives/2007/09/28/would-you-like-some-freedom-with-your-security-sir/#comment-15504 'Live free or die' Ask a slave which they value more life or freedom? Life for the individual? Freedom for their children? Are we bequeathing our children freedom or slavery? Crake ‘Live free or die’
Ask a slave which they value more life or freedom?
Life for the individual? Freedom for their children?
Are we bequeathing our children freedom or slavery?
Crake

]]> By: Colin Pretorius http://commentary.co.za/archives/2007/09/28/would-you-like-some-freedom-with-your-security-sir/comment-page-1/#comment-15488 Colin Pretorius Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:14:37 +0000 http://commentary.co.za/archives/2007/09/28/would-you-like-some-freedom-with-your-security-sir/#comment-15488 Lenny Bruce said 'if you can't say f*ck, you can't say f*ck the government'. It's the same thing with any other right or freedom - it's not just about freedom from terrorists, it's about freedom from people who *will* be seduced by and drawn to the power they could hold over you. I agree that it is a cost/benefit tradeoff, but there are a lot of people who are heavily incentivised to downplay the *cost* of and overstate the *benefit* of forsaking freedoms. Lenny Bruce said ‘if you can’t say f*ck, you can’t say f*ck the government’. It’s the same thing with any other right or freedom – it’s not just about freedom from terrorists, it’s about freedom from people who will be seduced by and drawn to the power they could hold over you.

I agree that it is a cost/benefit tradeoff, but there are a lot of people who are heavily incentivised to downplay the cost of and overstate the benefit of forsaking freedoms.

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