How Does Society Protect American Safety
Throughout history, Americans have always valued their freedom above all else. This has been repeatedly shown, from the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror. Patrick Henry declared to the Virginia Congress in 1775 “Give me liberty or give me death!”, and this attitude is still held proudly by many in American society today. Men and women from across the country enlist in the military to protect American freedom, despite the threats to their well being that military service may present. There are some however, such as social critic H.L. Mencken, who argue that society only wants safety, and is willing to sacrifice freedom for it. This statement is true in some respects: society supports laws on trespassing on private property. Society also
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supports security checks at places such as airports. In both cases a small amount of freedom is sacrificed to make life safer. There are times though when American society will chose to value its freedom over its safety. Americans have decided to regulate goods that can pose a danger to members of society, such as guns and whiskey, only to deregulate them later on. Although American society does have an interest in being safe, it is not willing to give up freedom unless the safety obtained is substantially greater. Policy that greatly increases safety without sacrificing freedom receives strong support from American society. After the September 11th attacks, the potential for catastrophe as a result of lax security measures became apparent to Americans. Society was swift in the adaptation of new security regulations as a result. Although passengers would be limited for what they could bring onto commercial aircraft because of these regulations, they were willing to make that sacrifice. With the implementation of stricter security guidelines, air travel became much safer for both those on the plane and those off of it. Americans gave up the freedom to carry potent weapons aboard commercial aircraft because the ban of weapons allows for safer travel. Americans will also invest in safety if they do not have to invest with their liberties. The Department of Defense receives over $700 billion each year to spend, and they receive this money from the congressional budget. The representatives spend so much on defense, more than the next 26 countries combined, because they know that this spending will be approved by their constituents. American society has a strong interest in its own safety, and will readily spend money to ensure it. Liberty is not the same, Americans are willing to spend it for safety but not nearly as effortlessly. If Americans do not receive a substantial amount of safety for the freedom that they give up, they oppose the said safety measures.
When Edward Snowden leaked internal National Security Agency documents to the American public, the result was outrage. This outrage was caused by the discovery that Americans were not free to have privacy on the internet and on mobile devices. Although the monitoring of communications undeniably created a higher level of safety, it was still widely opposed on the basis that the freedom of privacy was being violated. Society was presented with an unprecedented level of security that would make them safer, but it was thoroughly rejected because of the freedoms that were subsequently denied. In a clear chance to create a safer society, Americans viewed their individual liberties as being more important. This choice is not just made at a federal level however, Americans also make this choice locally. Policies that are implemented for police officers are rejected by Americans if they take away “too much” freedom. An example is stop and frisk policy, which is in theory supposed to make streets safer. With the idea being that suspicious people can be stopped and searched by the police to determine if they are in fact dangerous, the policy was passed in many cities. It has received opposition from many different groups however for, among other things, taking away freedoms. Part of the “suspicious” profile is what the person is wearing. Americans, wanting the freedom to dress as they choose without being searched by the police, reject the possibility of safer streets. It is not that society does not want to be safe, but instead it consistently shows that it prefers freedom and safety to absolute safety with a cost of all
freedom. When basic safety needs are met, Americans tend to value freedom above safety. This is the reason that American politics has a Libertarian Party and not a Secure State Party. From the Declaration of Independence to today, the primary national interest has been in maintaining liberty. American society reflects that the average man does want to be safe, but that they want to have freedom to go with it.
supports security checks at places such as airports. In both cases a small amount of freedom is sacrificed to make life safer. There are times though when American society will chose to value its freedom over its safety. Americans have decided to regulate goods that can pose a danger to members of society, such as guns and whiskey, only to deregulate them later on. Although American society does have an interest in being safe, it is not willing to give up freedom unless the safety obtained is substantially greater. Policy that greatly increases safety without sacrificing freedom receives strong support from American society. After the September 11th attacks, the potential for catastrophe as a result of lax security measures became apparent to Americans. Society was swift in the adaptation of new security regulations as a result. Although passengers would be limited for what they could bring onto commercial aircraft because of these regulations, they were willing to make that sacrifice. With the implementation of stricter security guidelines, air travel became much safer for both those on the plane and those off of it. Americans gave up the freedom to carry potent weapons aboard commercial aircraft because the ban of weapons allows for safer travel. Americans will also invest in safety if they do not have to invest with their liberties. The Department of Defense receives over $700 billion each year to spend, and they receive this money from the congressional budget. The representatives spend so much on defense, more than the next 26 countries combined, because they know that this spending will be approved by their constituents. American society has a strong interest in its own safety, and will readily spend money to ensure it. Liberty is not the same, Americans are willing to spend it for safety but not nearly as effortlessly. If Americans do not receive a substantial amount of safety for the freedom that they give up, they oppose the said safety measures.
When Edward Snowden leaked internal National Security Agency documents to the American public, the result was outrage. This outrage was caused by the discovery that Americans were not free to have privacy on the internet and on mobile devices. Although the monitoring of communications undeniably created a higher level of safety, it was still widely opposed on the basis that the freedom of privacy was being violated. Society was presented with an unprecedented level of security that would make them safer, but it was thoroughly rejected because of the freedoms that were subsequently denied. In a clear chance to create a safer society, Americans viewed their individual liberties as being more important. This choice is not just made at a federal level however, Americans also make this choice locally. Policies that are implemented for police officers are rejected by Americans if they take away “too much” freedom. An example is stop and frisk policy, which is in theory supposed to make streets safer. With the idea being that suspicious people can be stopped and searched by the police to determine if they are in fact dangerous, the policy was passed in many cities. It has received opposition from many different groups however for, among other things, taking away freedoms. Part of the “suspicious” profile is what the person is wearing. Americans, wanting the freedom to dress as they choose without being searched by the police, reject the possibility of safer streets. It is not that society does not want to be safe, but instead it consistently shows that it prefers freedom and safety to absolute safety with a cost of all
freedom. When basic safety needs are met, Americans tend to value freedom above safety. This is the reason that American politics has a Libertarian Party and not a Secure State Party. From the Declaration of Independence to today, the primary national interest has been in maintaining liberty. American society reflects that the average man does want to be safe, but that they want to have freedom to go with it.