<p>Ari,</p>
<p>It seems to me that your point should be addressed as 3 issues: </p>
<p>First, should a democratic nation balance national security issues and civil liberties, or should one always take precedence over the other?</p>
<p>Second, if you determine there should be a balance, is the balance static (e.g., always equal) or does it vary with changing circumstances?</p>
<p>Third, if you decide the balancing act is subject to changing circumstances, how should it vary? (E.G., should it favor national security in wartime or the converse, as you suggest?)</p>
<p>I think there should be a balance that is flexible depending on the circumstances and, at least for me, there is no better time to emphasize national security than when faced with a credible threat from a foreign nation or entity. I suspect others might answer these issues in a different way than I have, especially the first issue.</p>