The Culture Wars: Liberty-Security-Privacy Compromise

This is a series speaking primarily on the social changes regarding generational attitudes toward certain things where we, at one point, held a more conservative position on the matter. Sometimes, it's worth noting that such changes can be referenced to earlier events that may lead to something else.

LIBERTY & SECURITY

While revelations of spying may have been heavily emphasized, thanks in part by, Edward Snowden, it really took root back in the 60s and 70s, when three people decided to infiltrate the FBI building and steal the documents, discovering what they feared most -- the government has been spying on the public. The very people whom they are suppose to represent. This was one hell of a discovery, but none so surprising.

Anyone who lived during that time, whether as children or teenagers, may remember when there were less surveillance and people were more trusting of the government. In fact, we were once a country that was practically an open fly zone, where if you're going to the airport, you just simply pay for your ticket and go about your business. No checks, no screening, nothing. Simply wade and walk in bliss.

Times have changed and now we're in an era where fear really took root and this is mainly thanks in part of September 11, 2001, when the twin towers fell asunder. We're not dealing with simply one tragic event, but an event that changed the course of our safety. However, all doesn't go too well on that front because people feel less secure with laws like the Patriot Act being implemented. Whether this is based on administrative changes (politics) or simply people fed up with the idea that they lack liberty is still up for debate.

But in times like this, more libertarian minded movements are pushing for a deep scaling back on surveillance programs in the name of liberty, according them. Reciting the Founding Fathers and also the idea of liberty is utmost importance. Yet, there have been some thought as to whether can we find a balance between liberty and security. One may assume the position that it's nigh impossible without some sacrifices to our own liberties and privacy.

Thanks to the internet, the enemies of the world are more cyber-savvy and with hackers, it shows the vulnerability of a free internet cyberspace and how date mining is the most popular, both in economics and in privacy.

But I have to ask...

1. Can you bridge between privacy and security? Why or why not?
2. With greater technology, can you still combat terrorism of any kind without losing any sense of liberty?
3. Are libertarians correct in their assessment or are they just exaggerating their points?