Security and Privacy

This essay is a fantastic elaboration on the Benjamin Franklin remark that those who would sacrifice privacy for security deserve neither.

The essayist points out that while security and privacy are sometimes a trade-off, sometimes they're not. Locks on your door increase security without taking away privacy. Holograms on money make it harder to copy, but don't invade my privacy.

There are ways to make us safer that don't involve reading everyone's email. Privacy of correspondence and phone calls should be preserved. Freedom of speech must survive. Because if we unnecessarily give up freedom to make ourselves safe, we will all die a little inside. We should fight criminals, but not by any means thinkable. Some means are unjustifiable.