Terrorism and Civil Liberties

[Kevin Robert Dean]

A new Michigan State University survey sponsored by
the National Science Foundation has found that even
though 84 percent of Americans are "very concerned" or
"somewhat concerned" about a future terrorist attack
on the United States, a majority of them are unwilling
to relinquish civil liberties in exchange for enhanced
security. Most Americans also identify U.S. foreign
policy as a "very important" or "somewhat important"
factor leading to terrorism directed against U.S.
interests. 

The nationwide survey was conducted by Darren Davis
and Brian Silver, faculty members in the Department of
Political Science. 

Nearly 55 percent of those surveyed said they were
generally unwilling to allow the government broader
powers to combat terrorism if those powers meant
limiting traditional constitutional protections. 

Specifically: 

92 percent said they opposed government investigation
of non-violent protestors. 

82 percent said they opposed government use of racial
profiling. 

77 percent said they opposed warrantless searches of
suspected terrorists. 

66 percent said they opposed government monitoring of
telephone and e-mail conversations. 

53 percent said they opposed the indefinite detention
of terrorism suspects. 

However, those surveyed did indicate a willingness to
give up some civil liberties in three areas: 

54 percent said they supported the idea of a national
identification card. 

60 percent said schoolteachers should not have the
right to criticize U.S. anti-terrorism policies in
class. 

71 percent said that it should be a crime to belong to
a terrorist organization. 

The survey found that some Americans are more likely
than others to want to protect their civil liberties.
Those describing themselves as "not proud to be
American" and those with "low trust in local law
enforcement" were the least likely to want to give up
rights.
Full Text at:
http://www.ur.msu.edu/media/releases/april02/civilliberty.html

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Kevin Dean
Buffalo, NY
ICQ: 8616001
AIM: KDean75206
Buffalo Activist Network
http://www.buffaloactivist.net
http://www.yaysoft.com

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