Why are so many people in the US willing to sell out thier liberty and freedom for a little protection?
96178
First of all, it has nothing to do with religous leaders.  That makes no sense at all. So obviously you are a moron.  It has nothing to do with a "few" U.S. citizens typing on the internet.  It is catching people in this country who want to destroy it and communicate with terrorists and evil people like the ones who killed 3,000 people on 9/11. I don't understand who you mean by cowards.  It is the complete opposite of coward if you are on the offensive and try to stop violence by terrorists before it happens.  Democrats want to sit back and wait for something to happen before taking action.  That is a coward.  So again you make no sense. Our military does put there life on the line everyday to protect punks like you and this country.  Information they get from NSA wiretapping helps them do this and to stop terrorists from killing innocent Americans.  Maybe even someone close to you.  Would you want to keep your "liberty" or have your mom killed in a terrorist attack when it could have been stopped by wiretapping?  Freedom of thought?  Go ahead and think whatever you want!  Type it on the internet.  Talk about it on the phone.  No one cares!  The government doesn't care.  But if you are talking to al Qaeda then yes they will care and take your a** down!  And if it weren't for that "little protection" you so casually talk about when thousands of Americans have died for it, you would not have your liberty or freedom.
721501
Most Americans today are willing to support any cause pushed by the media because they are unfortunately thoughtless, uneducated sheep who never take the trouble (or don't have the concentration span) to spend five minutes and actually learn about an issue before taking a stance. People, freedom is not itself free. It comes with a price, the price of watchfulness. You must guard your freedom. Protect it. If you do not value your freedom and be prepared to defend it, someone will try to take it from you.\n\nIllegal immigrants will destroy your economy just the way you have described, by sending untaxed money out of your country.\n\nMy uncle was a paratrooper in WW2. He's part of the reason we are not living in a dictatorship now.
54458
Its not just about money, some just want the status quo to continue, others want to see change happen for safety reasons.  Overall, people are just scared no matter what and war usually makes people think about their own mortality and how precious life can be.  Then there are those that believe in standing up and supporting the country that gave them freedoms that otherwise they wouldn't enjoy elsewhere.  I was anti-war while in high school but I ended up joining the Army and spent the best 5.5 years in my life.  I would do it again if I could.  But I learned also that those that have been to war, don't want it to happen again but they realize that sometimes war is the only answer, talking doesn't always solve it.
7950
Freedom is a right as set forth in the US Constitution done by our forefathers. \n\nHowever, Freedom isn't free, it does come with a price that we have to pay with our military and in our courts every day. Sometimes at a very heavy and costly one.\n\nWe, as Americans, sometimes take Freedom for granted. Each of us must strive to keep the freedoms that we all enjoy as Americans. \n\nThis is one of the only countries on the Earth, where you can express your opinion without fear of reprisal.\n\nOn the other hand, if you break the law, you must pay the price. This too is guaranteed under the US Constitution by certain rights that ban illegal and unreasonable searches, as well as, cruel and unusual punishment.\n\nTo those who speak out against the US, just thank God that you live in this country and not in another part of the world where speaking your mind is illegal and punishable either by incarceartion or in some instances death. \n\nTo those that think that Freedom is a an "illusion," let's see what would occur, if that "illusion" were to disappear and be replaced with oppression.\n\nJust remember that Freedom can be lost at a moments notice and is a very fragile commodity that we must protect each and every day by every citizen of our great country.\n\nI wouldn't think of living anywhere else on this planet.\n\nGod Bless America and keep it free.
647344
Fear is a powerful tool... people give up their freedom for it... and if America gives up it's freedom, then it's not America anymore... you can't let fear (of Communism or Terrorism) dictate who you are and how you do things... if you do, then they have won...
787811
Check out the underground in the former Soviet Union and in China. We already know how a society reacts to it.  Some live with it and go on with the establishment, and others risk their lives for freedom.\n\nIn America today, most would follow the status-quo rather than make a sacrifice.  Others will pay a horrible price to fight for their freedoms.\n\nSue
45087
People want their rights.
133942
I am going to leave this question open ended.  I was going to say that what makes this country so great is that it enables us the ability to speak up and tell our elected officials what is wrong and that something needs to be fixed.  However I can see a minor encroachment on our civil liberties when it comes to our National Security.  I do not believe that any of our rights should be take away, but I believe that we live in different times now.  It is sort of an unfortunate thing.
547080
well im sure that if you look up something like how to make a bomb or anthrax or something that you probably get red flagged by the government and moniter you.  if you arent doing anything though whats there to fear.  i would rather sacrifice my privacy if its going to make the US a safer place to live.
62690
we all exist in a state of freedom,\n\nsome governments come and restrict our freedoms,\n\nexample,  you already had the freedom to express your political dissent,\n\nin some countries in some times, governments would arrest and imprison those who disagreed with the soveriegn,\n\nso liberty is a concept that means a government which protects the citizens rights, natural rights, to freedom,
830615
This is the insanity of giving anyone power.  The American Constitution is meant to restrain the power of the state and the government by protecting individual Rights as sacrosanct and inviolate.  However, too often the government and state have colluded to convince and coerce people into surrendering a Right for a government permit or state-given benefit in the name of greater "security".  This is a form of fraud, and is clearly taking advantage of a electorate that is too stupid, thanks to continually dumbed-down ciriculums, to know better.  There's a sucker born every minute, which means there are billions of them on the face of this globe.
980249
because then we wouldnt make as much money. if we let people have freedom then the economy of the world would go down. to be honest it just a load of rubbish to make sure people have no freedom and so they spend all their time working for their country as it is now too much effort to see the world and live somewhere else because it is too expensive to. if people could just move around willy nilly the stupid governments wouldnt have enough money to fund their bmw's and helicopters for the followin year,
546214
There is alot that the Government hides from us.  They hide it because they are afraid of us.  We really have the power....the more people DON'T know this the MORE they can control us!
1183136
Because George (or his advisors) are brilliant and have brainwashed a majority of the American people to believe that they must defend themselves against the war on "terra""!\n\nThey have the American people living fear-based lives and have convinced them that their government knows what is best and that they should be left to make all the decisions.  Soon, there will be no individual rights or privacy left for the average American citizen.  (Or any other countries if the Bush administration has their way.)  World and economic domination is the primary goal of this government.  Not the good of the American people.  \n\nSounds a lot like the early church leaders manipulating the bible and church rules in order to control the masses and ruling by fear.
848579
By the complacency of its' citizens, and the fear that the government created by utilizing the media to spread false information, Weapons of Mass Distruction for instance. Creating an atmosphere of fear allowed the government to slowly and stealthfully rob you of your freedoms. The patriot act was one step, the Military Commissions Act is another. We live in the greatest country in the world, but do not be diluded into thinking that you live in a democracy elected by the people (ask Al Gore), or that you are free Try speaking out against the Government,  or exercizing your right to bear arms like the Davidians, or try not paying your property taxes, and see how long it is before the Government evict you from "Your Property". They have the right under "Imminent Domain" to seize your property for any reasonat any time. Don't believe me? Do some research. There are many many cases of this happening. Finally, try not paying your federal taxes. A tax that , by the way, was never ratified by any state in the union, and see how long it is before your wages are garnished, or  your assets seized.......Like I said. It is the greatest country in the world, and I am proud to be a citizen,  but the government is corrupt. You just have to look at the greatest Democracy ever that lasted 1000 years, the Roman Empire to know that it was greed, and corruption that brought down that empire. Greed and Corruption will eventually bring down the American Empire as well, and I doubt that it will last anywhere close to 1000 years.
285528
People... We enter into a social contract and make government to protect our rights.  We're willing to give up some rights to protect others. - John Locke in a nutshell.
877310
Many prefer security to freedom, becuase they don't ever attempt to utilize their freedoms, so they don't realize when they have lost them.\n\nI'm from New Hampshire, the "Live Free or Die" state. And I try to remind people that we only have those freedoms that we can defend. And we only have those rights we choose to fight for.\n\n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\n\nIn honor of Pastor Martin Niemöller:\n\nFirst they came for the 6th Amendment, but I hadn't been accused of a crime, so I didn't object to denial of counsel.\n\nThen they came for the 4th Amendment, but I wasn't talking to anyone overseas, so they wouldn't be monitoring me.\n\nThen they came for the rest of the 4th Amendment, but I only called my mother, so there was nothing suspicious in my phone records.\n\nThen they came for the 1st Amendment, but I never associated with criminals, so I didn't worry about being convicted purely based on what other people might do.\n\nThen they came for the 14th Amendment, but I never really understood the rules for Due Process (and wasn't allowed an attorney), so I didn't object.\n\nThen they came for the rest of the 1st Amendment, but I never told anyone about what the government was doing, so again I remained silent.\n\nThen they came for the 5th Amendment,  ......  and I no longer had the right to remain silent.