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It seems people are excited about giving up their constitutional right to privacy to make sure that the 'bad guys' get caught...however, we still don't have proof that the illegal wiretapping set in motion by the president & government did anything positive for us. I know I'm against it, and I've contacted my elected officials about it several times to give them a piece of my mind.
Do you think we should all be wire tapped? If so...then, can we get those emails back that ware missing from the President for a two year period that federal law requires we archive? Why is everybody so happy with this illegal double standard?
Because both liberals and conservatives...and many people in this country are slowing being convinced that the goverment is here to "keep us safe" from everything from terrists to lighbulbs.
Here's your Congress at work...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=e-LOtKIIKcg
And that's just the tip of the iceberg...it has all to do with the insidious creeping of Bro Brother into our every day lives, in every facet, at every turn...not to mention, by treating us like idiots, within a few generations we WILL be idiots...we'll depend on the Government to tell us how/when/where...how to safely wipe our butts...and for the eviromental community...how many squares we can lawfully use.
The whole thing with Katrina...the BIG picture (and the most pathetic part, to me)...was seeing all those people saying no to saving their OWN lives, and waiting and waiting and waiting for the Government to come and pluck them off their roofs. Ask yourselves...would you save yourself? Or would you wait for the Government to do it??? I really feel that's going to be the future of the majority of Americans, in another 100 years...dependent, helpless, pathetic slobs.
It is a common misconception that the ACLU is a political and liberal organization. They defend anyone who's civil liberties are being violated regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, religion, or politics.
Of course since we live in a country that is predominantly Christian it is more common for the rights of non-Christians to be violated so there are more ACLU cases defending non-Christians but if you look at the work the ACLU has done they have defended people of all faiths.
The ACLU is the most principaled organization I know of. The attorney who represented the NAZI party who wanted to have a parade through a Jewis neighborhood was Jewish himself. He no doubt detested everything the NAZIs stand for but the principal that free speech is one of our most important liberties took president over his personal feelings toward NAZIs.
Reminds me of the Voltare quote, "I detest what you say but I will fight to the death to defend your right to say it.".
Amblessed, yes Obama voted for it, and I am bitterly disappointed in him for doing so. And I let his senate office know about it. I know he sees it as a compromise. But I think our constitutional rights should never be compromised.
I feel like we let the 4th ammendment become totally irrelevant. I can only hope that either this will be challenged as unconstutional in court, or cooler heads will prevail once the dems have control of the WH, and they overturn it.
The following has been repeated often, but it bears repeating again, especially to those who think that allowing the goverment to wiretap american citizens without a warrant is no big deal since it doesn't affect them.
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. " Ben Franklin.
amblessed - now that Obama is closer to being one of the two candidates, he's showing his true colors (eg, I think he may be as evil as McCain)...here's to hoping that if he does go somewhere, it's not an indication of how he'll act in the white house.
You know, like how Texas had the worst environmental record in the country and it got worse after Bush became governer...which was a solid precursor for his environmental policies as president.
If Obama is really acting the way he will in the future, if he does become our leader, then we simply have no good options in the race, which is very sad.
bimjob...I'm in a foreign country at the moment :) 2 of the 3 founders of this site are not Americans, but do reside there - and my wife & I are visiting her family in another country...so, even if it's in a foreign country, but on American citizens or residents, I take a very dim view of this idea.
Besides which, there was enough evidence of 9/11 in advance...but, that didn't help. So the expanded powers will only give a bigger haystack to sift through to find a needle...it still won't solve the problem of once said needle has been found, forcing the government to act on it.
Ignorance is bliss: People think it will stop crime, but all it does is jeopardize our constitutional right of free speech.
For example, some kid was talking to a friend about making homemade bombs (like smoke bombs) for fun, what he didn't know was his neighborhood was being tapped for suspicion of some terrorist living in the area, needless to say the poor kids house got torn to shreds as the government "inspected possible terrorists".
I disagree with it as well.
There's a naive* pervasive attitude that if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't care about privacy anyway. And so the majority happily give away their privacy protections in exchange for empty promises based on irrational arguments. There is no valid reason not to require a warrant. The judicial branch gives them out like candy anyway.
*'Naive' is too generous a word really, but this is a civilized forum.
Well Rickd, I am glad it is not up to you which cilivil liberties need protecting or not. You really just don't get the idea of civil liberties and our form of government. You are constantly advocating our laws be based on YOUR morality. Laws are not based on morality at all, they are based on civil rights.
You need to read the constituion once in a while.
I understood that the allowed wiretapping was NOT within the US, but rather only in foreign countries, which we have always allowed the CIA to do. Am I wrong? I tried looking at the voting records, but they are really confusing: ("...Motion To Waive CBH Re: Motion To Concur In House Amdts To Senate Amdt To House Amdt To Senate Amdt To H.R. 2642..." ???)
The constitution is the highest law of the land. Our government should not be able to invalidate the 4th amendment without amending the constitution.
The ACLU is fighting the FISA legeslation. If you value your freedoms join the ACLU and give generously. I've been a card carrying member for over 10 years.
The ACLU does defend our civil liberties. They are the one group that has consistently represented EVERYONE'S liberties, not just those you agree with. That is the beauty of liberty...it is for ALL!!!
You know filetofspam, I have always supported their causes but never joined. Now seems like a good time.
Wonder why Obama voted for it when he had assured his base he would filibuster to keep it from passing...
