On Freedom
Dana Blankenhorn at MOORE'S LORE: new technology is technically a tech blogger. But just as I drift into tech now and again, he keeps posting stuff that directly parallels the though process I feel is needed in the political sphere. Here's the beginning and end of his post, Freedom Carries Risks:
Do you want to live in a free nation? Do you want to live in a democratic society?
Then accept some risks. You can't have both liberty and absolute security. There is always a balance between the two, but for over 200 years the United States has generally erred on the side of liberty.
It has been a winning bet. Liberty allows collaboration, which results in innovation. Innovation makes societies more flexible. Open lines of communication make for transparent markets. A free press is our great guarantor of democracy.
Democracy is to government as markets are to economies, and as liberty is to innovation. These are our three pillars. Without them we are nothing.
…So choose. In the words of James Madison, "There are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by the gradual and silent encroachment of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpation." Or take Ben Franklin's advice, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
I damn near stood up and applauded this post. That last paragraph could be the motto to rally a fight against P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act and Patriot II provisions.
Bravo, Dana.
posted by Prometheus 6 at 7/9/2003 08:57:49 AM |
Posted by P6 at July 9, 2003 08:57 AM
| Trackback URL: http://www.prometheus6.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1074
