Originally Posted by martinguerre

I think there may be some collective acknowledgement that Alan is not likely to be persuaded by arguments to the contrary.

Valuation of security over liberty is not a decision i can factually prove to be incorrect. I don't think it's smart...i don't think the government has a wonderful track record with unchecked coercive power, nor do i like the idea of a more authoritarian state. but those are mostly value judgements, not factual debates. to be frank, i don't think Alan's rhetoric on this issue is going to convince a great deal of people. He's making such provocative statements as to pretty much alienate him from most folks, even the conservative camp here at TFP which tends to be pretty libertarian, not totalitarian.