They Are Watching You
Posted by Alexander Marquez on July 11, 2009| What right do we have for privacy? In an age of terror, can we really expect to have any secrecy, for the government wants to keep an eye on its citizens, and for that matter, non-citizens? Few know that the FBI now has more power to monitor us, for thanks to The National Security Letter provision found in the Patriot Act, the government can now force internet providers, financial institutions, and credit companies to give up the records of their customers, even without a court order. So, next time you surf the internet, remember that someone is watching you. You are not alone, for there are cautious eyes on you at all times. |
Now comes the news that President George W. Bush’s administration participated in a massive spying campaign, one whose details remain confidential. Yet, there is no doubt by insiders about its scope. Trust me, it was large. There are many who decry the National Security Agency’s (NSA) actions as illegal acts that infringed upon innocent people’s civil liberties, and now comes the conclusion that it is likely President George W. Bush’s administration accomplished very little with their actions, other then rob citizens of their constitutional freedoms.
Some accuse the former President of using insignificant findings to serve his own interests by sensationalizing the results in order to cause unnecessary panic, thus receiving the approval which would allow him to continue his administration’s practices. The Fisa Amendments Act (FAA) of 2008 solidified the new powers of the government, granting them almost unlimited control when it came to spying. Let me remind you of what the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution dictates. Let’s not forget that it was created to guard against unreasonable searches. If you are to be searched, it specifies that a court mandated warrant is required, and that a probable cause is also a requirement.
Oh, how things have changed, for under the Patriot Act, the FBI can now enact various tactics to get access to documents showing how typical citizens are behaving, something which had been unheard of before the Patriot Act was approved. There are accusations that President Bush, and for that case, the government, used the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as an excuse to finally gain the control they had been seeking all along.
I am no crazy liberal, but one thing that was proven in Michael Moore’s great film ‘Farenheit 9/11′ was the fact that congress had very little discussion when it came to the Patriot Act, for there are various allegations in that movie that seem to suggest that many senators didn’t even bother to read the bill before approving it.
So, we must consider what liberties we are willing to give up on. Our founding fathers established the Constitution for our own protection. Sure, President Bush faced many obstacles and pressure after the terrorist attacks, but let’s remember to question everything, and let’s force our leaders to answer our questions and concerns. We must always stay vigilant, not letting our guard down, remembering that over two hundred years ago our founding fathers fought to the death to establish the freedoms we take for granted. Let’s keep our eyes open. We might regret it if we don’t.
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