ASA 2
Ideally, the idea of government is supposedly a battle between two forces: freedom and protection. People submit to governments some of their personal freedoms in order to receive some kind of security in return. For example, via the police, we give up our "right" to take things from other people in order to prevent the same from being done to us. However, what is not taken into account in this interpretation is that the government which we trust is also an entity that can turn against us. Thus, it is important that we only allot the government so much power that it cannot harm us in return.
The Patriot Acts, created in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, are an example of when we have empowered the government possibly to a dangerous extent. Using the shock and fear in the general public, the government gave itself the rights to take away many of our freedoms. The most concerning is the ability to monitor personal communications. Although it can be correctly used to protect the people, it is more likely that such an ability be used to keep the people in check. As a general rule, people do not react to the possession of power well, often abusing it. In the hands of a government operated by people, it is more likely to harm us rather than help us if we continue to give it these powers.
Thus, the reaction to the second Patriot Act is a welcoming sign for the future. By standing up to the government in these kind of situations, we are standing up for and protecting ourselves. Although we may be more susceptible to acts of terrorism, it must be considered whether a sheltered and limited life is preferable to a free one with some dangers.
Q: On a different note, how can we increase our safety from acts such as terrorism without continuing to give up personal freedoms?
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