Riddle me this...

Not long ago, about 11 years and change, many of us were wondering whether Americans would, out of fear, willingly give up their constitutional rights in the hopes that government would watch over our every move and protect us.  You know - strip searches at airports, tap our phones, etc.  And, yes oh yes, we were met with a lot of accusations about being treasonous and whatever because we were concerned that liberty not be circumvented out of terror.

Fast-forward - zing - and now we see NY Mayor Bloomberg deciding for the rest of us that "...we live in a complex world where you’re going to have to have a level of security greater than you did back in the olden days, if you will. And our laws and our interpretation of the Constitution, I think, have to change."  Thanks for your opinion - I guess if you have enough money you can buy an office and the time so people to have to listen to it.  But while you may be willing to trade your rights and freedom for increased security, I am not.  I am not willing to give up on something just because some (terrorists) do not like it and others (e.g., Bloomberg) are scared.  You have the money to buy the security YOU need to make you feel safe - do that and leave my rights alone.

What is it about people that they do not realize that if we change the nature of who we are out of fear, then those who would terrorize us win.  You have, in essence, allowed them to define the limits of our freedoms by their misdeeds.  Letting them shut down cities, roll convoys of Urban Assault Vehicles, enter your homes without a warrant, all because you are afraid, is the beginning of losing all of your freedoms.  Letting a media and a government (whoever is running it) convince you that you are in grave danger and that they should do whatever they want to keep you safe is step one of having those ubiquitous cameras not only on the street, but in your living room.  How many of the terrified masses would be willing to make that deal?  Sadly more than a free nation would wish.

Don't tell me what to eat, don't tell me I cannot responsibly exercise my right to self-protection, don't tell me only you can keep me safe and that I should turn that responsibility over to you no matter the cost.