Thread: AMERICANS FEAR GOVERNMENT MORE THAN TERROR

AMERICANS FEAR GOVERNMENT MORE THAN TERROR

Posted on 28 April, 2013 by Amy

by DREW ZAHN

According to a pair of recent polls, for the first time since the 9/11 terrorist hijackings, Americans are more fearful their government will abuse constitutional liberties than fail to keep its citizens safe.

Even in the wake of the April 15 Boston Marathon bombing – in which a pair of Islamic radicals are accused of planting explosives that took the lives of 3 and wounded over 280 – the polls suggest Americans are hesitant to give up any further freedoms in exchange for increased “security.”

Video at the page Link:

A Fox News survey polling a random national sample of 619 registered voters the day after the bombing found despite the tragic event, those interviewed responded very differently than following 9/11.

For the first time since a similar question was asked in May 2001, more Americans answered “no” to the question, “Would you be willing to give up some of your personal freedom in order to reduce the threat of terrorism?”

Of those surveyed on April 16, 2013, 45 percent answered no to the question, compared to 43 percent answering yes.

In May 2001, before 9/11, the balance was similar, with 40 percent answering no to 33 percent answering yes.

But following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the numbers flipped dramatically, to 71 percent agreeing to sacrifice personal freedom to reduce the threat of terrorism.

Subsequent polls asking the same question in 2002, 2005 and 2006 found Americans consistently willing to give up freedom in exchange for security. Yet the numbers were declining from 71 percent following 9/11 to only 54 percent by May 2006.

Now, it would seem, the famous quote widely attributed to Benjamin Franklin – “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety” – is holding more sway with Americans than it has in over a dozen years.

A similar poll sampling 588 adults, conducted on April 17 and 18 for the Washington Post, also discovered the change in attitude.

“Which worries you more,” the Post asked, “that the government will not go far enough to investigate terrorism because of concerns about constitutional rights, or that it will go too far in compromising constitutional rights in order to investigate terrorism?”

The poll found 48 percent of respondents worry the government will go too far, compared to 41 percent who worry it won’t go far enough.

And similar to the Fox News poll, the Post found the worry to be a fresh development, as only 44 percent worried the government would go too far in January 2006 and only 27 percent worried the government would go too far in January 2010.

The Fox News poll was unique in that it further broke the responses down by political affiliation:

Bucking the trend, 51 percent of Democrats responded they would give up personal freedom to reduce the threat of terror, compared to 36 percent opposed.

Forty-seven percent of Republicans, on the other hand, opposed giving up freedoms, compared to only 43 percent in favor.

Yet independents were the most resistant, with only 29 percent willing to sacrifice freedom, while 58 percent stood opposed.

“Which worries you more,” the Post asked, “that the government will not go far enough to investigate terrorism because of concerns about constitutional rights, or that it will go too far in compromising constitutional rights in order to investigate terrorism?”

The poll found 48 percent of respondents worry the government will go too far, compared to 41 percent who worry it won’t go far enough.

And similar to the Fox News poll, the Post found the worry to be a fresh development, as only 44 percent worried the government would go too far in January 2006 and only 27 percent worried the government would go too far in January 2010.

The Fox News poll was unique in that it further broke the responses down by political affiliation:

Bucking the trend, 51 percent of Democrats responded they would give up personal freedom to reduce the threat of terror, compared to 36 percent opposed.

Forty-seven percent of Republicans, on the other hand, opposed giving up freedoms, compared to only 43 percent in favor.

Yet independents were the most resistant, with only 29 percent willing to sacrifice freedom, while 58 percent stood opposed.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/04/americans...e-than-terror/

Originally Posted by Drew Zahn

AMERICANS FEAR GOVERNMENT MORE THAN TERROR

According to a pair of recent polls, for the first time since the 9/11 terrorist hijackings, Americans are more fearful their government will abuse constitutional liberties than fail to keep its citizens safe.

A misleading headline, IMHO. I thought it referred to Americans' quite sensible fears that the enemy dictatorship in Washington, D.C., would:

• harm them, beat them up, or maim them;
  
  
• Publicly humiliate, X-ray, strip search, or molest them;
  
  
• rob, disenfranchise, or dispossess them, or sic the IRS on them;
  
  
• indoctrinate their children against them or split up their families;
  
  
• poison them by food, drinking water, vaccination, or aerosol media;
  
  
• persecute them, incarcerate them, and confine those unwilling to comply in internment camps for reeducation; or
  
  
• simply euthanize them without their consent or the consent of their next of kin.

Then again, some people in the northeast corridor or in Los Angeles might reasonably fear Is|amist terrorists or mad bombers more than the terrorist enemy dictatorship... or not.

Added to Homepage--

http://www.alipac.us/content.php?r=1...RE-THAN-TERROR

Washington Post Poll

This poll was conducted for The Washington Post by telephone April 17 to 18, 2013 among a random national sample of 588 adults, including users of both conventional and cellular phones. The results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus five percentage points. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by SSRS of Media, Pa. Produced for the Washington Post by Capital Insight.

*= less than 0.5 percent

1. As you have probably heard, explosions at the Boston Marathon killed three people and injured more than 100 others. How closely have you been following news about the bombings in Boston, very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely or not at all closely?

------ Closely ------ ------ Not closely ------- No opinion
NET Very Somewhat NET Not too Not at all
4/18/13 80 38 41 20 12 8 -

Trends for comparison:
“Suicide bombings in Russia”
4/5/10* 36 10 26 64 24 40 *

“The recent terrorist bombings in Bali, Indonesia”
10/24/05* 44 13 31 55 26 29 1

“Terrorist bombings in London, England (July 7, 2005)”
7/10/05* 76 36 40 23 17 6 1

“Terrorist bombings in Madrid, Spain”
3/21/04* 69 34 35 30 18 12 1

“Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center
in New York and the Pentagon in Washington
9/17/01* 96 74 22 4 3 1 *

*Pew Research Center

2. How much confidence do you have in the ability of the U.S. government to prevent terrorist attacks against Americans in this country: a great deal, a good amount, a fair amount or none?

------- Confident ------- ---- Not confident --- No opinion
NET Grt.deal Good amt. NET Fair amt. None
4/18/13 43 15 28 57 42 15 1
5/2/11 61 22 40 37 31 7 1
9/2/10* 44 12 32 56 45 11 *
9/7/07 49 15 34 50 40 10 1
9/7/06 46 15 31 53 43 10 1
1/26/06 50 19 31 49 39 11 *
9/11/05 41 14 27 59 41 18 *
8/21/05 42 14 28 57 43 15 *
9/8/04 RV 52 16 35 47 39 8 1
9/7/03 45 14 31 55 48 7 1
9/8/02 50 12 38 49 43 6 *
7/15/02 46 13 33 54 45 9 *
6/9/02 44 14 30 55 44 11 *
5/19/02 46 17 29 52 42 10 2
3/10/02 55 18 38 44 39 5 *
1/27/02 57 18 40 42 37 6 1
11/27/01 63 24 39 36 32 5 1
11/6/01 52 17 35 47 40 7 1
9/11/01 66 35 31 32 30 2 1
6/2/97 35 10 26 62 52 10 3
8/5/96 35 12 23 65 49 16 *
5/14/95 36 12 24 63 51 12 1
4/20/95 37 13 24 62 51 11 1
6/28/93 59 22 37 41 32 8 1
4/3/89 46 16 30 54 38 16 *
*9/2/10 and previous from Washington Post-ABC News polls

3. How concerned are you about the possibility there will be more major terrorist attacks in the United States – is that something that worries you a great deal, somewhat, not too much or not at all?

------- Concerned ------- ---- Not concerned ---- No opinion
NET Grt.deal Somewhat NET Not much At all
4/18/13 69 32 37 30 20 10 1
9/7/08 64 18 46 36 23 13 *
9/7/07 66 25 41 34 23 10 *
9/7/06 74 29 45 25 17 8 *
8/21/05 66 24 42 33 23 10 1
7/21/05 73 30 43 27 17 10 *
9/8/04 RV 73 25 47 27 20 7 1
9/7/03 71 25 46 29 20 9 *
3/20/03 76 29 47 24 16 8 1
2/16/03 72 27 45 27 18 9 1
9/8/02 74 22 52 26 19 7 0
7/15/02 73 29 44 27 20 7 *
4/21/02 73 30 43 26 18 9 *
3/10/02 70 23 47 30 21 9 1
12/19/01 70 27 43 29 22 8 1
10/15/01 77 35 43 23 14 9 0
10/9/01 82 36 46 18 12 6 *
10/7/01 81 41 40 18 13 4 1
9/27/01* 83 43 39 17 12 5 *
9/11/01 87 49 38 12 7 4 1
6/13/97 62 21 41 38 24 14 *
6/2/97 63 22 41 37 28 9 *
8/5/96 74 31 43 26 18 8 *
4/20/95 78 38 40 21 16 5 1
*9/27/01 and previous: "How concerned are you about the possibility there will be more major terrorist attacks in this country."

4. How concerned are you about the possibility there will be a major terrorist attack in your own community where you live – is this something that worries you a great deal, somewhat, not too much or not at all?

------- Concerned ------- ---- Not concerned ---- No opinion
NET Grt.deal Somewhat NET Not much At all
4/18/13 40 13 27 60 27 32 *
9/11/01 42 16 26 58 33 25 *

5. Did you, personally, do any of the following because of the bombing…? [Insert item]

4/18/13 – Summary Table

Yes No No opinion
a. Stay home from work or leave early 5 95 *
b. Watch or listen to broadcast news reports 79 21 *
c. Pray for the victims and their families 77 22 *
d. Change your daily plans or activities in any way 6 94 *

Trend for comparison: Did you, personally, do any of the following because of today’s (9/11/01) attacks…?

9/11/01 – Summary table
Yes No No opinion
a. Stay home from work or leave early 31 69 *
b. Watch or listen to broadcast news reports 99 1 0
c. Pray for the victims and their families 91 8 *
d. Change your daily plans or activities in any way 53 47 0

6. Have you had any difficulty concentrating on your job or your normal activities because of the way you feel about the bombing in Boston?

Yes No No opinion
4/18/13 9 91 *
10/3/01* 31 68 1
9/17/01* 49 50 1
*Pew Research Center: “the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon”

7. Since Monday’s bombings in Boston, have you or has anyone in your household started avoiding crowded places such as shopping malls because of the chance of terrorism, or not?

Yes ----------- No ------------ No opinion
Yes NET Considering Not cons.
4/18/13 8 92 7 85 *
10/24/01* 14 86 11 75 *
10/21/01 8 91 12 79 1
*ABC News: “Since September 11th”

8. Which worries you more: that the government (will not go far enough to investigate terrorism because of concerns about constitutional rights), or that it (will go too far in compromising constitutional rights in order to investigate terrorism)?

Will not go Will go Neither No opinion
far enough too far (vol.)
4/18/13 41 48 5 6

Compare to: Which worries you more: (that Obama/Bush will not go far enough to investigate terrorism because of concerns about constitutional rights), or (that Obama will go too far in compromising constitutional rights in order to investigate terrorism)?

Will not go Will go Neither No
far enough too far (vol.) opinion
1/15/10* 63 27 6 4
1/8/06** 48 44 6 2
* “Obama”
** “Bush”

9. Which comes closer to your view – the terrorists will always find a way to launch major attacks no matter what the U.S. government does, or the U.S. government can eventually prevent all major attacks if it works hard enough at it?


9. Which comes closer to your view – the terrorists will always find a way to launch major attacks no matter what the U.S. government does, or the U.S. government can eventually prevent all major attacks if it works hard enough at it?

Terrorist will always find a way

Government can eventually prevent all attacks

No Opinion

4/18/13 66 30 4
9/11/11* 58 40 2
8/14/11 59 37 4
1/10/10 60 39 1
9/9/07 57 40 3
9/2/06 57 41 2
9/4/02 60 37 3
*2011 and previous: CNN/ORC, Gallup and CNN/USA Today/Gallup


***END***

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv..._20130418.html

When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear government, there is tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson

http://www.alipac.us/f19/bush-obama-...manity-277376/

Polls Show More Americans Value Freedom Over Safety

April 30, 2013 by Ben Bullard

PHOTOS.COM

The spirit of Benjamin Franklin’s oft-quoted assertion that “[t]hose who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety” may be enjoying more currency among Americans in 2013 than it has since the days of Sept. 11 and the Patriot Act.

Two polls conducted in the wake of the recent Boston Marathon bombings reveal American attitudes may be shifting away from surrendering their personal freedoms in exchange for government’s assurance to keep everyone safe.

A FOX News poll conducted the day after the Boston bombings asked 619 people some of the same questions about the balance between liberty and security that a similar poll had asked immediately following the World Trade Center bombings; the results were very different this time around.

Back in 2001, in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, 71 percent of Americans polled by FOX News responded that they’d be willing to trade some freedom if it would help the U.S. government “reduce the threat of terrorism.” The poll was also repeated following terrorist incidents, both domestic and foreign, in 2002, 2005 and 2006, with the number only slightly declining as respondents’ vivid memories of the most spectacular incident, Sept. 11, slowly receded.

But after Boston, the same poll showed only 43 percent of respondents held that view. That’s the lowest number since before the 2001 attacks, when a May 2001 iteration of the poll turned up only 33 percent of respondents who thought it appropriate to hand over their liberties for the sake of protection.

Among those surveyed, people who identified themselves as political “independents” resisted the idea of giving up their freedoms at a lower rate (29 percent) than either Democrats (36 percent) or Republicans (47 percent).

In a similar poll, The Washington Post asked 588 people: “Which worries you more — that the government will not go far enough to investigate terrorism because of concerns about constitutional rights, or that it will go too far in compromising constitutional rights in order to investigate terrorism?”

Conducted April 17 and 18, the poll showed 48 percent of respondents felt the government would go too far in compromising their Constitutional rights, while 41 percent favored the alternate view. The same poll also showed that 66 percent believe terrorists will always find a way around the government’s most diligent efforts at preventing attacks on U.S. targets.

Filed Under: Conservative Politics, Liberty News, Staff Reports


http://personalliberty.com/2013/04/3...m-over-safety/

http://www.alipac.us/f9/liberty-news...2/#post1341512