Those who would trade essential liberty
An overwhelming majority of people in Britain are willing to surrender civil liberties to help tackle the threat of terrorism, the nation’s leading social research institute will disclose today.
The survey found seven in every 10 people think compulsory identity cards for all adults would be “a price worth paying” to reduce the threat of terrorism. Eight in 10 say the authorities should be able to tap the phones of people suspected of involvement in terrorism, open their mail and impose electronic tagging or home curfews.
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But fear of terrorism did not reduce people’s support for human rights in the international arena. About 84% agreed that “when a country is at war it must always abide by international human rights law.” And 78% rejected the proposition that “during a war it is acceptable for the armed forces to torture people.”
Regardless of whether torture is an effective weapon against terrorism, I think it is quite interesting that the British would voluntarily sacrifice many liberties they enjoy – a sort of subtle torture against the populace – but they are unwilling to cause any discomfort to those who would kill them.
I think that liberties are what make our country great. I would rather see the “rights” of others, especially others who are trying to kill me, infringed before I sacrifice mine.
