At least on some things. A Fox News poll, taken just after the recent Boston Marathon terrorist bombing had these results, among others (the full poll is at a link in the article).
On the question of trading some personal freedom for an increase in personal safety, Americans had this to say:
7. Would you be willing to give up some of your personal freedom in order to reduce the threat of terrorism?
|
Yes |
No |
(Don’t know) |
|
|
16 Apr 13 |
43% |
45 |
12 |
This compares with past results:
|
16-18 May 06 |
54% |
36 |
10 |
|
10-11 Jan 06 |
61% |
27 |
13 |
|
26-27 Jul 05 |
64% |
21 |
15 |
|
8-9 Sep 02 |
61% |
24 |
15 |
|
4-5 June 02 |
64% |
21 |
15 |
|
17-18 Oct 01 |
71% |
20 |
9 |
Those October 2001 results are just after the terrorists crashed the Twin Towers, damaged the Pentagon, and attacked (unsuccessfully, via United Airlines Flight 93) the White House. Americans are recalling Benjamin Franklin’s remarks on that tradeoff, that without personal freedom, there is no security. At all.