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Two segments of today's show dealt with the tension between security and civil liberties. Both the new policy announced yesterday of random searches of bags and packages in (or entering) NYC's subways and some of the provisions of the extension of the USA PATRIOT Act passed last night by the House force us to choose where we'll draw that line.

Here's what three of our listeners had to say...

I'm with Ben Franklin on this question . . .That's all, folks!
Those who will give up a little freedom for a little more security deserve neither. (paraphrase) -- J. in NJ

I'm an american, lived in Paris during the time after the bombings of the subway, food market, and justice building area. At some point searches of bags began not in the subway as you might expect, but at the entrances of major department stores. I personally thought it was wise. People reacted with dignity, and it wasn't much of a disruption at all. . . . -- C. from Manhattan

Even setting aside Fourth Amendment concerns, the MTA searches are absolutely ridiculous. This is not a security measure, this is just another illusion-of-security measure. If someone carrying a bomb walks away from a checkpoint at Grand Central, what prevents that same person from walking a few blocks and boarding the train at 50th St ? --G. from Greenpoint

What do <a href="http://www.wnyc.org/blog/lehrer/you think?