FC: Americans historically trade liberty for security?

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 22:49:38 +0200
Subject: Americans historically trade liberties for security, pollsters say
From: Micha Schellingerhout <m.schellingerhout () planet nl>
To: <declan () well com>

Americans historically trade liberties for security, pollsters say
http://www.nandotimes.com/nation/story/406681p-3240764c.html

By WILL LESTER, Associated Press

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (May 19, 2002 2:05 p.m. EDT) - When feeling threatened,
Americans have been willing to give up some personal freedoms over the past
half century, public opinion researchers suggest, and that has carried over
during the current terrorism threat.
The Bush administration is trying to encourage people to return to their
normal lives, while also warning about possible terrorist attacks.
On Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney said that the chance of more al-Qaida
attacks against U.S. targets is "almost a certainty," and he advised
Americans to stay vigilant.
Michael Traugott, a researcher with the University of Michigan, said his
work has shown that Americans have not regained their sense of security
since Sept. 11.
"That's going to take a long time, and this is a difficult thing for the
administration, trying to do two conflicting things at the same time," he
said. "They're trying to help Americans feel better and they are continually
talking about the need for vigilance and staying on alert."
This "is a confusing and confounding message for the American people," said
Traugott, who is among the researchers attending the annual meeting of the
American Association for Public Opinion Research over the weekend.
[...]




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