Are we really being scared out of our rights?

[Bill Hicks]

BBC NEWS | UK | Ministers 'using fear of terror'

Damn!

[loz]

in a word, yes.

[anwarsadat]

^ + 1

[NewMan]

We aren't being "scared out of our rights" - that would imply that we're freely, democratically giving up these rights. We're not, they are simply being removed by those who would use fear of terrorism as an excuse.

[monkeyleader]

As Benji Franklin would say

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety

The essential liberty is being lost in things like

- where we can take photos
- what I can take on a plane
- how many dam forms I need to fill out before I can travel (each and every time)

Slowly but surely it's being chipped away !

Nige

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by monkeyleader

The essential liberty is being lost in things like

- what I can take on a plane

I'm pleased that there are all these restrictions on what one can take on a plane as it certainly makes me feel more secure when I'm flying

[krish]

the politics of fear is as old as politics itself

[Kebabhead]

Who needs politics when you've got the media

[eric pisch]

Originally Posted by krish

the politics of fear is as old as politics itself

3 basic ways to keep a populous happy and ignoring your mismanagement of the affairs.

1) Keep them entertained / encourage there blood lust like the Romans.

2) Encourage and support the 2 largest sections of the society that don't get on to start killing each other (such as in Ireland or Iraq)

3) Create Fear and Hysteria so the populous will go along with anything you say, need to spend billions on nuclear weapons - get people scared of the Russians, need more taxes - beware Global Warming, Want to violate personal liberty - terrorists are going to blow you up in your sleep.

[daveaka]

daily mash

THE former head of MI5 last night finally twigged that thing the rest of us realised about seven years ago.

Dame Stella Rimington said the government was exploiting the public's fear of terrorism to restrict civil liberties, before pointing out that Top of the Pops isn't on anymore either.

..... link

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by Ian J

I'm pleased that there are all these restrictions on what one can take on a plane as it certainly makes me feel more secure when I'm flying

Absolutely.

The world needs restrictions for some things otherwise it'd be a whole lot messier than it is.


What exactly would someone need to take on a plane that they're not allowed?

[RMCF]

The fear of terror has been used to bring in a Big Brother society, invade a country to get oil and torturemurder innocent people.

But if you get everybody scared out of their wits, then you can get away with a lot, including murder.

[lucasisking]

Surely the fact that such restrictions are necessary should trouble us- not 'make us feel safer'. Having to modify our way of life, and restrict our freedoms, even in a minute way is a small victory for those who threaten our safety.

The inconvenience of increased security doesn't bother me in the slightest- but the need for it bothers me greatly. Life should be safer in the 21st Century, not more hazardous.

I am more concerned with the loss of freedom of speech than freedom of movement, as demonstrated by a recent incident involving a Dutch MP. Since there's no thread on this subject, can I assume the moderators would rather leave that particular topic alone?

[Jenn]

Hermann Goering said

Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

and it doesn't work with just wars...

[monkeyleader]

Originally Posted by Ian J

I'm pleased that there are all these restrictions on what one can take on a plane as it certainly makes me feel more secure when I'm flying

Do it as often as I do it and it becomes a pain, beleive me ! I certainly don't feel any safer either - who needs terrorists to bring down planes when a perceived reduction in maintenance due to the credit crunch seems to be doing that for them ..... but then that's a whole different subject !