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Poll: Texans willing to sacrifice some liberties to guard against future attacks
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Poll: Texans willing to sacrifice some liberties to guard against future attacks By JEREMY SCHWARTZCopyright 2001 Scripps HowardMore than 90 percent of Texans fear more terrorist attacks in this country, and 74 percent are willing to give up some civil liberties in the effort to guard against them, according to the Scripps Howard Texas Poll.Though 93 percent of Texans said they were concerned about further attacks, only 57 percent are worried that they or their family members will be victims."We're all feeling vulnerable," said Steven Seidel, chair of the psychology department at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. "[Texans] probably don't feel nearly as vulnerable as those living closer to New York."Despite that sense of vulnerability, most Texans are confident the U.S. government will be able to prevent further attack. Eighty-six percent expressed confidence in government efforts, and only 3 percent are not confident at all that further attacks are preventable by the government. "I think that's asking a lot to definitively protect against a future attack," said Chuck Pena, senior defense policy analyst with the Cato Institute."We will have to be perfect," he added. "The terrorists only have to be successful once."Pena said the only way he could foresee positively warding off an attack would be through the creation of a police-like state, something a chorus of civil libertarians have warned against.Following the attacks, federal law enforcement officials pushed for broader powers to allow eavesdropping of electronic media such as e-mail.Attorney General John Ashcroft has suggested deporting without evidence undocumented immigrants suspected of having ties to terrorism.More than half of respondents- 52 percent - are concerned new measures to fight terrorism will lead to restrictions on civil liberties.But only 7 percent of Texans said they wouldn't be willing to give up any civil liberties in the fight against terrorists. Another 17 percent said they would give up civil liberties depending on which ones were targeted.Will Harrell, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, said the fact that many are willing to give up civil rights is not surprising. "We are in a moment of national crisis. People are scared and angry," he said. "The truth is I think it's short term. As things normalize, people will change."Harrell said he is confident legislators won't rush to judgment on changing laws regarding privacy and deportation."Law enforcement tries to prey on the fear and hysteria of the populace to expand their authority beyond constitutional limits," he said.The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington did not dampen Texans' enthusiasm for large public gatherings such as sporting events.Seventy-one percent said they would not be afraid to attend such an event.At Enron Field, where the Houston Astros are battling for playoff position, attendance has not been slowed despite time-consuming security measures that have been implemented since the attacks, said John Sorrentino, vice president of ticket service and sales."I can honestly tell you that the fans who come out to Enron Field feel safe and secure," Sorrentino said. "Attendance has increased since the violence."Sorrentino said seven of the Astros' last nine home games have been or will be sold out. Security measures include prohibiting backpacks and large bags, and the search of all purses and smaller bags."I guess it's always a worry," Sorrentino said of terrorist attacks on sporting venues. "But even prior to the events of the 11th, we've had plans in place for evacuations."Seidel said that after the attack, most Americans lost both their senses of security and control. The coming weeks and months will be a time for Americans to rediscover their world, he said.But should terrorists attack again, the fallout could be worse than the first round."If some event were to happen now with all the heightened security, that sense of vulnerability will go through the roof," he said.The telephone poll, conducted Sept. 20-25 by the Scripps Howard Data Center, surveyed 500 adult Texans chosen by a systematic, random sample. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. c 2000, 2001 The Bryan/College Station Eagle
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IF YOU DON'T LIKE MY RIGHTS - GET OUT OF MY COUNTRY (this includes politicians)
Semper Paratus