H. L. Mencken, an American essayist, claims that "The average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe." I agree with the statement in that people are valuing safety and security over the ability to do whatever they please.
Laws are a very transparent medium that display how society values its safety. The majority of laws are created, at the expense of society's freedom, to ensure that the nation remains safe. From the smallest driving violation to the Patriot Act, all of these laws work to ensure that citizens can live in harmony with those both inside and outside the United States.
Financial security is another example of valuing security over the risks associated with freedom. A majority of people would not spend a lot of money gambling in casinos because the odds of winning are so slim. Heck, few people would be confident in investing their savings into stocks, which with lots of analyzing can lead to some very convincing trends, because the small risk associated with it outweighs all the potential gains. Deciding not to buy something expensive in fear of not being able to pay for it is also an example of limited freedom. Choosing financial security limits one's freedom in the ability to purchase whatever he or she pleases.
There are people who argue that there are actually people who strive for that adrenaline rush associated with the idea of doing whatever he or she wants; however, they fail to take into account that those people are only a small fraction of the entire society. Also, some of those people who value their freedom too much can become criminals due to a lack of restraint.
