"Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither."

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

Ben Franklin said it first, and the words may becoming home to roost.

On edit, thanks to CrackpotAmerica's thread the actual quote is: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x229254

If this "administration" successfully convinces the majority of Americans that they should willingly give up the rights that we have fought and died for so often for the perceived security of being safe from any nut case that takes it upon himself to commit an act of terror, America will most surely die an early death. We already live in a nation with one of the highest per capita populations in prison known to history. MOstly people of color, the poor and the disenfranchised. This isn't good enough, so Guantanamos are being run worldwide to circumvent constitutional rights. We are already a fearful society and Bushco works hard at increasing the "fright threshold" as they bombard us daily with news of an invisible enemy with no country, face or identity.

It's the perfect enemy for the military industrial complex.

The war against thought, individuality and creativity has been waged since the fundamentalist inspired administration first took power. Everything is sold as black or white with no room for shades of grey. We are being told that it's good to question, but to question in a time of "war" is to undermine our troops and any chance of victory. The "us or them" mentality is pitched with the strange caveat of "them is who we say it is."

Bit by bit, Bushco has been chipping at our credulity in fashion of no WMD, Osama doesn't matter, voting fraud, warrantless searches and invasions of privacy are good for America... The sheer number of laws broken and rights violated have not allowed any serious investigation or attention of any one topic.

Is it a new tactic? Break so many laws that no one can keep up with them? It seems to be working.

America is giving this administration its freedoms.

This administration will take them.

They don't "hate us for our freedom," They covet our freedoms and want them all for themselves and no one else.

If Democrats don't buck up and take back a significant number of seats in both houses quickly, I'm afraid that Bush may succeed in destroying what's left of a once great nation.

God help us all.

[Tesla]

1. We need Ben!!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

5. LOL. Love that graphic!

[mitchum]

2. "We will bankrupt ourselves in pursuit of absolute security"...

Dwight D Eisenhower
It's not often that I find words of wisdom from republicans, but it does happen sometimes.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

6. Too damn true. n/t

[existentialist]

3. I think you have stated the hopes and fears

of a substantial number of DUers.

I can't even say that I'm a good Democrat. Much of what many Democrats propose strikes me as nonsensical or of only secondary importance in view of the constitutional threat presented by the Bush Administration combined with Republican dominance in Congress (and perhaps the Courts and the media) and if Nadar had a real chance of being elected instead of just being spoiler I may may well have supported him.

But the Republican threat to the values of this nation, and thus to the nation itself are the issue of the hour, day and year, and if we as Democrats are to have any significance we must stand now.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

7. I wish it weren't so.

[ClayZ]

4. "Bit by bit, Bushco has been chipping"

The resulting SCULPTURE of America looks alot like hell in a handbasket, and the basket is on fire.

[Bluebear]

8. k&r

[dchill]

9. "deserve neither"

I wonder how many wingers just can't get their "minds" around this concept. Or maybe they've been tipped that Ben was a Librul, so therefore everything he ever said is just a lie.

[existentialist]

10. Actually, I would have to say that

Benjamin Franklin was indeed a liberal.

[dchill]

11. Well, of course.

So would I. In fact, America is a liberal country. Problem is, it ain't cream that rises to the top when religion and corporate money get mixed in.

[mikelewis]

12. You hit that nail right on the head, and God is helping....

Past the seeker, as he prayed, came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten. And seeing them, the holy one went down into deep prayer and cried, "Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?" And out of the long silence, God said: "I did do something about them. I made you."

[CrackpotAmerica]

13. Make sure you read MJDuncan1982's Point on my thread..

In the interest of preserving objectivity, I feel I must tell you that She did bring up a pertinent point. However, I still support the the banner and its relationship to the original quote.

It can bee found here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=229254&mesg_id=229527

My edit in response is here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=229254&mesg_id=230325

Please Write and call Your Senators And Reps Today..!!

:Nominated: