In your well written, unbiased article does it refute this fact; Bush signed a "signing statement" giving him the authority to circumvent a law that would put you or me in jail if we decided to break?
I am happy that you express your opinion, especially because it is in the minority here and provides for more stimulating debate. Please continue to voice them on this forum and don't let the landslide of opinion against you deter you. Having said that, I will now add to the landslide. North Koreans are currently very safe from terrorist attacks. The govt. has extreme control there. People can only listen to one radio station and it is from the govt. There movements are controlled, anyone who is allowed in from another country is watched carefully, and their movement is severely restricted. Yet I don't think those measures are good ideas. It does keep the North Koreans safe from anything like 9/11 happening, but that doesn't mean it is good govt. Let's go ahead and ponder the likelihood of Al-Qaeda communicating their next planned attack by the US postal service. It isn't going to happen. In my opinion freedoms are worth dying for. If one incident like 9/11 is all it takes to get you to willingly surrender your freedoms then you just don't hold them as dear as I would patriotic Americans would.
haha! i can sit here and come up with scenarios where we'd all agree that we hope somebody would look in a package or look at a letter if it's our nation's interest - or if it is fishy or has to do with yada yada yada... but i am not going to engage in one of those debates. cause really it just comes to a standstill. no i don't want to wake up one day living in nazi germany and i acknowledge previous posts suggesting that type of small incremental change, but i don't see why someone with nothing to hide would care about something like this. or the wire tapping thing either? wtf would somebody want to listen to me for? and it's not like they'd hear anything interesting other than me occasionally fighting with my girlfriend. i can say i would definitely care if these laws are abused - but i don't have that kind of outlook on life. i don't just imagine the worst case scenario and make decisions based upon it. if these laws are used properly, i believe they add safety. and really if you think about it, it's gives our government more transparency in monitoring criminal activity. if they are being abused, then we obviously need a change in leadership. it's that simple in my mind. let the bashing continue...
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Emphasis mine.
I care because it's a violation of my rights. The fact that I have nothing to hide is not the point. I have the right to communicate privately without the govt. nosing in on it, whether the conversation is about politics or recipes for good steak marinade. It is my right, and I refuse to part with it just because we were attacked by an enemy 5 years ago. I refuse to trade my rights for a short-term perception of security. I refuse to hand over the rights guaranteed to me by the Constitution of the United States of America just to placate the current administration in the their efforts to control everyone and everything, all in the name of "national security". I. Refuse.
I am in no way a Bush supporter, but I think people are sort've jumping the gun a little bit here. It isn't like Bush is gonna go poking through your mail. I highly doubt that the US government is going to be checking out your mail. Hey if they can stop a terrorist attack or something because of it then I'm for it.
Damnit, I'm sick of the State forcing me to buy automobile insurance! My wife was flattered the other night when she actually got IDed buying a glass of wine with dinner. I was pissed at the infringement of our liberty but I didn't let on because I didn't want to hamper my wife's delight. I think I just won't renew my driver's license when the time comes. For some crazy reason, I just can't walk into my daughter's school to visit them. I have to go to the Office and sign in as a Visitor of all things! I could go on and on about how my liberties are being infringed but I think you get the idea. Let's rebel!
WOW!!! Giddy that post made absolutely no sense whatsoever! Congratulations! Anyway, I'm simply amazed at the cavalier attitude people have about abdicating their personal rights so easily. It truly is a sad day in America. I guess the terrorists really have won.
Up until the civil war, the American men and women who died in battle fought to protect our liberties, freedoms. That was the WHOLE point of America. To make the government subservient to the people was the reason for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Over the last 100 yrs. we have slowly declined to a nation of government tyranny. That's what it is and it is what we deserve, because we don't even understand the principles of liberty and individual freedom anymore. We are already global citizens of the socialist elite and we don't even know it because we can still all sit in front of cable TV, play on the internet and charge on our credit cards without having to hold to any set of principles. I would just say to those of you who believe in liberty and freedom - it is too late. And to those of you who don't really care about these decisions by the president- never mind.
I'm tempted to hurl an insult here out of frustration, but I won't because I think you're a nice guy. I don't understand why you responded the way you did. It's abundantly clear: we make all kinds of sacrifices of our liberty even when there is no threat or emergency at hand. This was a short list; we could all contribute many more examples to it. What concessions to safety do you think are worth making? Where do you draw the line? How do you have certainty that that is the proper place to draw the line?
Slippery Slopes What next? You will be 'compelled' to give a blood/kidney/etc to the army to support the troops in Iraq. We need them to fight for out liberty. Would you be fine with that. Are you a parent? Are you over 18? How about Mandatory Military service for all men 18-30. Would you be fine with that? Actually I guess my question is. . . are you willing to TOTALLY suppress out freedoms to 'feel' secure? Rocket RIver
I don't have a problem with opening mail. But I think we ought to follow the rule of law, and the US constitution when doing it. Opening mail without warrants wouldn't have prevented the first 9-11, and I can't see it stopping another one. The govt. already can open our mail, they just need a warrant to do it, and that is as it should be. There must be checks and balances, and protections of the people from the govt.
Liberties can not infringe on the safety of others. All of the things you mentioned do that. Opening mail without warrants doesn't fall into that category. The govt. can open mail, they just need probable cause and a warrant. Our constitution is supposed to work like that.
