TAKING LIBERTIES: Civil Liberties and National Security with guests Robert Higgs and Gore Vidal

Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, Congress passed and President Bush signed the USA Patriot Act-legislation intended to thwart the threat of domestic terrorism. Critics were quick to denounce USA Patriot as a dangerous expansion of government power at the expense of our civil liberties. Are the critics right? Or can we win the war on terrorism without sacrificing our civil liberties here at home? And what has the American experience in earlier crises, such as the Civil War and the two world wars, taught us about balancing national security and personal freedom?

[@circlesinthenight3141]

Gore Vidal is a hero of mine and always will be. He made me want to be a writer and now I'm a poet . he means a lot to me

[@funny3272]

The Hoover Institution holds all tapes and transcripts for William F. Buckley Jr's Firing Line program...with that said: Gore Vidal fully explains his own point of view and then gets cut continuously. Gore's light comes on sensing Peter Robinson had been fed questions made by William F. Buckley Jr. The shame is not to have this video shown in it's entirety. P.S. We didn't have conscription instead the Bush Jr. Administration came up with Stop Loss/Stop Movement.

[@ircrane3349]

Why doesn't the moderator stop interrupting and let the grown ups talk

[@efrem1]

Indeed, two great minds. Regretably, Vidal left us last year.

[@titolovely8237]

anytime the cold war ever comes up, ask 2 questions to them: 1) how many times has russia invaded the united states, and how many times has the US invaded russia? 2) which country flew sorties into the other countries airspace during the height of the cold war? the cold war was about US expansion being blocked by the Russians, and oil reserves being contested. the idea that the russians were coming to invade the US is as absurd as the idea that the iranians are going to do the same.

[@37Dionysos]

Bravo---

[@winmine0327]

I like how Gore Vidal could say something that sounds (and sometimes is) absurd, and then provide a caveat of unprecedented delicacy.

[@arion45]

Who in the hell edited this? It is so biased. As soon as it gets good the speaker is interrupted. Post the whole interview!

[@janstaes2172]

i wonder what he would have to say about the state of the union today

[@AVIONBLANC]

Wow, very good! I would really like to see an entire unedited version. Interested to know if Dr. Robinson thinks that we are at the same level of civil liberties as we were in 2002?

[@publicme]

The moderator is in way over his head. He brings only his prejudice and resists this great chance to learn something. Ideology can really put blinders on a person. Bad job.

[@thighdude7]

I was wondering when this originally aired - thanks for the info - May 7th, 2002.

[@acdenh]

This episode originally aired on May 7th 2002.

[@darrellrobertparker5401]

Aug. 2013 and we are the police state that was predicted.

[@dengelke]

"Gore Vidal is technically right." - Never thought I'd hear Peter Robinson say those words. Also never thought Hoover Institute to side with more government overreach. Hell freezes over often.

[@dengelke]

Also Gore ends by calling Robinson "Doctor Pangloss". Doesn't get much better.

[@carlsaveus1735]

It´s true what he says about the budget, i.e.,: official Defense for 2012 is $558 billion (pentagon base budget) and 118 billion (wars) for a total of 676 billion; other amounts concerning defense and security THAT ARE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET (in billions): *DOE nuclear weapons related activities: 19.3 *Pentagon Miscellanous category: 7.8 *D of Homeland Security: 37 *D Health and Human Services: 4.6 *D of Justice: 4.6 *National Intelligence Program: 53.1 *Veterans programs: 129.3

[@rebharath]

thank you! this was very insightful. i like that all three have different view points but generally respect each other's points of view and try to stay on point.

[@acdenh]

I have noticed from other interviews that Peter Robinson almost always takes a contrarian position so as to keep his interviewees on their feet. It is my impression that he does not necessarily hold the views that he expresses unless he explicitly says so. If he was constantly agreeing with everything these interviews would not be nearly as interesting. Respectfully disagreeing is often the best way to learn from other people.

[@Samsgarden]

Good discussion

[@TheLegalImmigrant05]

Wow they have Higgs. Even Hoover Institution can be good for something every once in a while. Probably by accident.

[@countupir]

please link to unedited version in the description so we may see entirely

[@humanhiveanomaly]

Sadly Uncommon Knowledge would have to make a time machine to go back prior to July 31 2012 to make this happen.

[@rsr789]

You aren't looking at the total picture: interest on top of interest on top of interest, etc... of the war debt, as well as other costs by diverting money to war instead using them for education, infrastructure, etc...

[@spiritualblessings9584]

25:43 Here in 2020

[@PacificCircle1]

Got to strike a balance. What good is liberty if you are wide open to attacks and what good is live if you live in a police state? Homeland securities, like gun registration, won't keep us completely safe, but the those thing have little palpable affect on our freedoms.

[@przybyla420]

“You think we might be sliding into dictatorship? So you’re obviously not worried about terrorists, and clearly against the civil war, hmmm.” “What about football, apple pie and puppies, you hate those too?

[@Aphoresis]

He never was, he was always a Pop writer.

[@dwsibley75]

I think all you have to do to be considered a liberal intellectual is be able to articulate condescension.

[@CiprianChiraa]

Gore Vidal makes a good point here and there, but my impression is that a lot of hot air comes along with it. 2/3ds of the budget on wars ? Come on.