Freedom vs Security

[AlphaMale]

Which is better? I'm not only talking about physical freedoms (like protection from terrorists) at the cost of person liberty.
But what about economic freedom/security. Is it better to be free to plan for one's own retirement than to rely on the security of our government's retirement system? Same thing with health care: freedom to take care of our own, or security with government health care.

[DarkWolf]

Depends on goverment, your circumstances, your financial capability, your age and health... and so on.

Both are illusions.

[Ragarath Undahn-05]

um... i was kinda pondering the same question some days before... but it was kinda in the lines of Freedom being able to do anything you want, and security having a place to belong... i guess it really depends... both are flexible... it's just that i can't stand being held down... and can't stand the loneliness of knowing no one remembers you... or would care if you die... oh well... sorry i didn't make sense... just wanna share what i felt...

[Teej]

I say forget losing freedom for security against terrorists. You can get all the protection you want and there will still be attacks and incidents.

As for retirement and all of that, I'm for the government running it. The U.S. has been doing it for awhile, and they haven't done too bad and if they screw up they fix it pretty well. Also, you could save up for a lifetime for retirement and hide it in a shoebox and then have it all stolen in one night. The government can replace that if a bank is stolen or something.

[AlphaMale]

As for retirement and all of that, I'm for the government running it.

If any private firm, if they created a retirement plan identical to social security, and tried to pass it off as a viable means to retirement, they would be prosecuted for fraud. I don't mind the government helping out the needy elderly, but SS is a fraud.

Also, you could save up for a lifetime for retirement and hide it in a shoebox and then have it all stolen in one night.

I think a better objection would be (since not many people put their retirement savings into a shoebox), "you could save up for a lifetime for retirement and hide it in an Enron 401K account and have it stolen in one trading day."

Who was it who said, "those who give up liberty for safety deserve neither"? One of the founding brothers did (not sure which one, Franklin I believe). That statement sums up my belief.