Complacency

[Jeff Bone]

Clay Shirky wrote:

> > Sometimes the complacency of the average man scares the shit out of
> > me:
> >
> >     http://www.cnn.com/POLL/results/1586541.content.html
>
> Maybe its not complacency. Maybe they are asking for what they want.

Hence I said "average man."  The effect on average is complacency ---
overall acceptance of what's happening, coupled with general unawareness
of danger, trouble, or controversy --- no matter how firmly-held the
beliefs of the individuals might be.

> > "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
> > temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
> >   --  Ben Franklin
>
> I've seen this attributed to several people, including Jefferson. Do
> you have a cite -- I'd like to know who really said it.

Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759.  I actually
misquoted --- the actual quote is (apparently):

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. "

jb