I sent the Obama administration the following letter, because as good a job as he's been doing, I have yet to hear anything about the NSA's warrantless wiretapping, and what the administration plans to do about it. Indeed, his record on the subject has
fallen rather short of his usual standard.
The guy is many times better than Bush, yes. But it's still important to hold his feet to the fire when he makes a mistake, particularly on an issue that is as important and Constitutionally-fundamental as this one.
The way terrorism intelligence has been handled in this country, over the past 8 years -- the "guilty until proven innocent" mentality, the mentality that "giving up civil rights is OK if it's to fight terrorism"... these things smell rather unpleasantly of
McCarthyism and
witch hunts.
Society pays a real, human cost for this surveillance. That cost is rarely obvious -- at least, not right away, but it is there. One only has to look at repressive regimes such as China, or the
Thai government, to see what happens on the other end.
Combine wholesale surveillance with a climate of fear, and a lack of respect for due process and the rule of law. Good, innocent people will be branded criminals, forced to pay fines and serve jail sentences, or worse -- solely because they are brave enough to present competing ideas.
Let's stop it now, before we get that far.
>>> In 500 characters or less...Dear Pres. Obama,
I am appalled at the degree to which the NSA has overstepped its authority in spying on ordinary American citizens. I think it's clear, from the following links, that our Constitutional rights have been violated. What steps will your administration take to correct this issue, and hold those responsible accountable?
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2009/01/nsa-whistlebl-1.htmlhttp://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2009/01/nsa-whistlebl-2.html-- Des
sick
