"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin (USA Founding Father
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I think it unlikely that it means all liberty is essential. If it does, then that implies that it's OK for me to break down your door and steal your stuff. Though you would have the liberty to shoot me in response. Libertarianism is not a recipe for a society I'd particularly want to live in.
So there must be some liberties that are essential. (And, as a corollary, some liberties that are not - presumably divided into those that are desirable and those that are undesirable).
I'm not sure that it's clear which liberties fall into what categories. And I don't think there's a clear consensus in our society on this question. I'd suggest that's where many of the problems lie. Particularly where liberties collide.
For example : Sinners and Winners man. Does his right of free speech and religion override my right to go about my business without being yelled at, insulted and generally abused by a twit with a megaphone?
I dunno about you, but I hate the idea that I have to go thru so many "security" checks just to travel (fly). I actually start feeling sick to my stomach, consider the security guards no better than any traitors, and try to convince myself I don't have a choice (I guess I could spend a week or so via train or boat) if I want to travel anywhere.
The bigger insult is that to get to the US from any other country, you have to go thru a 2nd screening. That should be considered an insult to the hosting countries, and to any American. Maybe the Americans (with the Blue passports) should just be given a separate line, and the visitors can be treated like non-citizens (illigal search and seisure).
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So there must be some liberties that are essential. (And, as a corollary, some liberties that are not - presumably divided into those that are desirable and those that are undesirable).
I'm not sure that it's clear which liberties fall into what categories. And I don't think there's a clear consensus in our society on this question. I'd suggest that's where many of the problems lie. Particularly where liberties collide.
For example : Sinners and Winners man. Does his right of free speech and religion override my right to go about my business without being yelled at, insulted and generally abused by a twit with a megaphone?
Reply
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The bigger insult is that to get to the US from any other country, you have to go thru a 2nd screening. That should be considered an insult to the hosting countries, and to any American. Maybe the Americans (with the Blue passports) should just be given a separate line, and the visitors can be treated like non-citizens (illigal search and seisure).
Cars still kill more people than planes.
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