During the cold war, Western freedoms were favorably compared to the Soviet national identity card, which increased secret police efficiency.
...
President George Bush and his Attorney General, John Ashcroft, have resurrected the "Star Chamber," made infamous by the Stuart kings in the 17th century for arbitrary, secret proceedings with no right of appeal. Today, American citizens can be arrested and held in secret indefinitely without being charged. ... If you think you still live in a free society, consider: The Patriot Act overturns the attorney-client privilege, and attorneys who aggressively defend their clients can be indicted for "aiding and abetting terrorism." ... September 11 was caused by intelligence failures, not by civil liberties. Yet, the government's response was to attack civil liberties. ... Where do matters stand? [...] If the government declares you "an enemy combatant" or a "material witness" you have no rights. The government can hold you forever without charges or until you admit to some offense in order to escape from isolation and from psychological and perhaps physical torture. I would rather take my chances with terrorists.