What do you think of Ben Franklin's quote "Those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither" in the context of where our country is now?

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" - The actual quote is bit more nuanced than a simple either/or fallacy would suggest.

The key modifiers are "essential" and "temporary".

There, of course, can be an absoulte of neither. Absolute security is fascism; absolute freedom is anarchy.

It is a careful balance; ergo, the constant debate over where that fulcrum properly rests.

Ah, the search for the golden mean - the happy medium! Bless the pragmatism of the moderate!

Security restricts Freedom---to a certain point. You can have measures like searches at airports and still be free. All that cost you was little of your time. However, when the government wants to tap into phone conversations, put cameras on every street corner, and monitor everyone'e every move with satellites- our freedoms become threatened. The country might be a bit more secure and knowing you are being watched might deter some criminals from committing the crime, but what about a person who makes an innocent comment or whose actions are misinterpreted and get in trouble for it? Where was their freedom then? It is a fine line we must now walk between security to remain free and freedom itself.

Its as true today as it was when he first spoke it.

Remember the only truly secure place is a prison

I think that the terrorism at the moment is probably making people feel that it is less important than it really is, but Yes I still think Franklins quote stands true
Although Good security makes people feel more free to live normal lives

I don't think he was speaking about the same sort of security we speak about these days.

He was a master of rhetoric, and in this case, was casting the choice as black/white, either/or. Real life doesn't work quite that simply.

Do you have a reference of where he actually said it? I have seen it quoted on many a website, but don't know the context of the quote.

Freedom is subjective.

Some people feel more free if they know that there are security cameras, other people feel more uncomfortable.

Its a great quote ... I dont live in the USA but I'm sure it must feel like the walls are closing in at times ... what is life without freedom?

I really think that this qoute is now being applied to all of us. If we focus on this subject on sacrificing freedom for security, we lose our trust within ourselves and may be insecure within us.

Every time I hear of another government search or intervention I get scared the people of Germany and other countries started down the path of security our of fear and look where it took them. To me the Bush administration is a bigger threat than any terrorist. They always say the biggest enemy comes from within and they have started the erosion of our freedoms and I fear where we are headed.

We need to heed Ben’s advice more today than ever before

i love Ben Franklin , but he was a "common sense" man and that was then and this is NOW....what do u think he would say of HE say "the government" he helped establish for "the people"?
as Silence Dogood; "I am a mortal ENEMY to an ARBITRARY (dictorial) government with unlimited powers...I and naturally jealous for the RIGHTS & LIBERTIES of my country; and the LEAST appearance of and "encroachment" on those invaluable priviledges is apt to make my blood boil EXCEEDINGLY. I have likewise a natural inclination to observe & reprove the faults of others , at which I have an excellant faculty."

Here's what I think about it... http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5921483882405469009&q=911+following+the+evidence&hl=en