ABSTRACT
Debates regarding societal restrictions became particularly sharp in the first decade of the twenty-first century because of the ideological polarization of American society. A specific restriction or limitation arouses a variety of reactions, sometimes seen as reasonable and other times seen as damaging, partially depending on whether or not the assessors are part of the groups who respect traditions or those who promote innovations. People with a negative view of restrictions come from different social, demographic, and ethnic groups, and are from both the ruling elite and the opposition. Some of these restrictions are accepted by the majority of the people, while others arouse a great deal of anger and protests. This chapter briefly focuses on the debates over some restrictions. The debates regarding restrictions on rights in civil life, which include issues concerning the surveillance of telephone conversations, library activity, and airport inspections, among others, are probably the most intense of the debated topics.
