Photography + Freedom + Editorial -- What's the balance between security and freedom?

I was having great fun at a shoe store, taking 20-30 shots, when the manager asked me to stop. I was as courteous and groveling as possible, and he didn't ask me to delete the ones I already had. I decided to ask permission the next few times I was in a business building. . and was denied EVERY time. I generally ask people if I can take their photo before I shoot, but I've found that in corporate environments its easier to say you're sorry than to get permission.
Perhaps it's time to really fight the ridiculous security of our government.(that does little except turn us into a police state) For example: They have never caught the person distributing anthrax, have they? How many agencies and dollars were spent pre-9/11 without the effect of protecting us? How many person-hours, how much money have we spent on airport security? When you think about it, the terrorists have won! We've given in to fear and given up part of the freedom we fought so hard to obtain. We have chosen to spend BILLIONS of dollars on security that could better be spent curing and solving the injustices that cause the terrorism in the first place!
Maybe it's time for al little peaceful, respectful, civil disobedience. I'm pretty sure I'd be willing to go to jail a few times for a few days, if it would help to restore our pre-9/11 freedoms!!!