The whole notion of loyalty inquisitions is a national characteristic of the police state, not of democracy. The history of Soviet Russia is a modern example of this ancient practice. I must, in good conscience, protest against any unnecessary suppression of our rights as free men. We must not burn down the house to kill the rats.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Stevenson argues loyalty checks are tools of police states, not democracies, and warns against sacrificing rights for security.
- In plain terms
- Demanding proof of loyalty is a police state tactic, not a democratic one.
- What can you take from it?
- Protecting rights requires resisting unnecessary suppression.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Where is the line between security and liberty?
- When do loyalty checks cross the line?
Another view
It may overlook the need for any security vetting.
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