You only say that because that's how you have been conditioned to think. I agree it is much more easier for authorities agencies to restrict you to the point of making you a baggage.
Also, I would conceit that security is used as a pretext to control. But not, I do not agree that security and freedom are antithesis of each other.

This willing forfeit that you speak of was not my choice. Whether I wanted it or not, nobody asked me.

Well, we are not a republic..

However, you did make a decision indirectly. Your congress representatives voted on the patriot act for you. They voted to restrict your freedoms and you voted for them.. Thus, you did indirectly vote to forfeit your freedoms.

And the United States is most certainly a republic. If you don't think so, pick up a copy of the constitution.

Very typical of the common "leading" folklore: once you elect a representative you are bound to accept every decision coming from him/her as the word of the Supreme.
Unfortunately, many justify their laziness to vigilance in that way.

I didn't say that you were bound to accept their decisions.

Just that your vote went towards forfeiting freedoms.

Yes, you didn't.

.. However, you did make a decision indirectly. Your congress representatives voted on the patriot act for you. They voted to restrict your freedoms and you voted for them.. Thus, you did indirectly vote to forfeit your freedoms.

Sad, that in the beginning the voting process was to elect a representative that would ensure the protection of that freedom established.

Those are the types of things liberals are against. It's the patriot act that allows much of this anway. And considering our last eight years of presidency, supreme court, cia, etc. we are EXTREMELY far from socialism and much closer to a neo-fascist type state.