Americans Increase Fear of Government over Terrorism

For the first time since the 9/11 terrorist attack, recent polls indicate that 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.”

 

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% answered “no” to the question, compared to 43% answering “yes.”  In May 2001, before 9/11, the balance was similar, with 40% answering “no” to 33% answering “yes.”

 

But following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the numbers changed dramatically, to 71% 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% following 9/11 to only 54% 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% of respondents worry the government will go too far, compared to 41% 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% worried the government would go too far in January 2006 and only 27% 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% of Democrats responded they would give up personal freedom to reduce the threat of terror, compared to 36% opposed.  47% of Republicans, on the other hand, opposed giving up freedoms, compared to only 43% in favor.  Yet independents were the most resistant, with only 29% willing to sacrifice freedom, while 58% stood opposed.

 

These poll results make you wonder who or what is America’s greatest threat to freedom.  Is it terrorism or the U.S. government that prohibits our personal freedom?  Interestingly, either way it centers on ideology … whether Islamic jihad or party politics.

 

Rev. Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.

Chaplain (Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army

Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel