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Return to Article: 9/11 commissioners cite continued gaps in transportation security

• 5845
  

  I have to disagree with former Indiana congressman Lee Hamilton's comment: "The American public is becoming more and more agreeable to intrusiveness in order to protect themselves against terrorist attacks."

  What I see is an extremely divisive split taking place in this great nation. There are those agreeing that some (how much and which ones are hotly debated) additional powers need to be given to those tasked with our protection. There are also those that are screaming ever more stridently that to ensure we continue with our freedoms we must go the other way and eliminate all search and seizure powers from these same personnel.

  I don't claim to have the answer - it's a difficult question and I can see both sides' points. The President is right when he says that law enforcement has to be right 100% of the time. Statistically that is impossible to maintain forever, and the problem is that we can't have it both ways. I am afraid that when (not if, but when) we have another terrible tragedy because we haven't given appropriate powers to the protective agencies to have prevented it, then the CIA, FBI, local Sheriff, Barney Fife or whoever happens to be available will be the scapegoat for "not doing enough" again.

  Anyone else notice that the outcry over the enforcement agencies' failures have muted the total failure of Congress' oversight responsibility to ENSURE they were doing their jobs? And had the funding to DO their jobs? What were the members of the Legislature doing?

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 18, 2004 10:25 AM
• 5838
  

  Mr. Hamilton has his head in the sand much too far.

  Maybe he should get out of DC and talk to real people, the ones who have to live with the bad decisions made in DC.

  I don't want to give up my freedoms for anyone. I will fight if I have to, make no mistake about that.

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 18, 2004 7:30 AM
• 5832
  

  "The American public is becoming more and more agreeable to intrusiveness in order to protect themselves against terrorist attacks"

  Hmm, how convenient a statement is that? No one asked me if I was agreeable to being intruded upon. I don't recall agreeing to give up my civil liberties in order to be 'protected'. Ben Franklin said it best, and I truly fear the direction this country is headed in.

  Holly Hill Posted August 17, 2004 9:59 AM
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  "The American public is becoming more and more agreeable to intrusiveness in order to protect themselves against terrorist attacks." - Former Indiana congressman Lee Hamilton

  I don't know which American public he was talking about, but everyone I know is getting more and more upset with the intrusiveness of the Government. All this makes me think more and more about George Lucas' THX-1138 and Huxley's 1984, not to mention such inspired quotes as:

  "A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away." - Barry Goldwater

  "People who are willing to give up freedom for the sake of short-term security, deserve neither freedom or security." - Benjamin Franklin

  "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." - Robert Heinlein

  Michelle Zellich Posted August 17, 2004 9:43 AM