Jim Burns wrote:

There are many great things about this country. Our citizens have
more rights and freedoms than those of many other countries. Our
fathers, mothers, sons and daughters fight and die for us to keep
those freedoms. Unfortunately our ability to excercise those rights
and freedoms is sometimes inhibited by government agencies created
out of fear or as a desperate attempt of government to show "action".

I'd say that is also true of *this* country:

Crime fight tops Labour's agenda

Tony Blair has put the fight against crime and terror at the
heart of his government's programme in the run up to the
next general election.

Home Office Bills - including national ID cards and moves to
combat terrorism, drugs and anti-social behaviour -
dominated Tuesday's Queen's Speech.

Tory leader Michael Howard said Labour was preoccupied with
talk and spin.

The Liberal Democrats accused ministers of creating a "climate
of fear," to gain advantage at the ballot box.

Mr Blair told MPs that although security and crime were central
to this year's Queen's Speech, they should be taken alongside
on-going investment in public services and continuing economic
stability.

:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk_politics/4034543.stm