Great article from HuffingtonPost about why this is a false choice. Please read it. It might change your mind if you're thinking the trade-off may be worth it:
Thanks for the link. Some great points there like:
* Since 9/11 we have not had a mass-scale terror attack. We can say 9/11 was a one-off, an aberration, and cannot be a justification for everything the government wishes to do.
* If domestic spying is for our own good, the government should be proud to tell us what they are doing for us, instead of being embarrassed when it leaks. If you're not doing anything wrong then you've got nothing to hide, right?
* The system completely missed the Boston bombers, two of the dumbest, least sophisticated bro' terrorists in the world.
* If instead of spending trillions and trillions of dollars on spying and domestic surveillance we spent that same money on repairing our infrastructure and improving our schools, wouldn't that more directly create a stronger America?
All are valid points to consider in this discussion. But for me, it all boils down to the risk terrorist pose to America vs risk of government abusing its power. No contest. I'll take my chances with the "terrorists" any time, any place, any day.
Let us not forget the sacrifice made by our founding fathers to give us liberty. Our freedom came at great price that shouldn't be taking lightly. Only after an open national discussion, with the consensus necessary for a constitutional amendment, should the government be given this power over us that they are taking now in secret.
It's naive to pretend the trade-off doesn't exist already or that a decision hasn't been made. The trade-off has always existed- a warrant can be produced to violate your privacy. It's just a question of what the procedure should be, what information can be searched, what situations it can be used in, etc.
I don't think there is much opposition in the general population to searches where probable cause exists. But that is indeed a trade-off between security and privacy.
Comments
Great article from HuffingtonPost about why this is a false choice. Please read it. It might change your mind if you're thinking the trade-off may be worth it:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-van-buren/a-childs-guide...
Thanks for the link. Some great points there like:
* Since 9/11 we have not had a mass-scale terror attack. We can say 9/11 was a one-off, an aberration, and cannot be a justification for everything the government wishes to do.
* If domestic spying is for our own good, the government should be proud to tell us what they are doing for us, instead of being embarrassed when it leaks. If you're not doing anything wrong then you've got nothing to hide, right?
* The system completely missed the Boston bombers, two of the dumbest, least sophisticated bro' terrorists in the world.
* If instead of spending trillions and trillions of dollars on spying and domestic surveillance we spent that same money on repairing our infrastructure and improving our schools, wouldn't that more directly create a stronger America?
All are valid points to consider in this discussion. But for me, it all boils down to the risk terrorist pose to America vs risk of government abusing its power. No contest. I'll take my chances with the "terrorists" any time, any place, any day.
Let us not forget the sacrifice made by our founding fathers to give us liberty. Our freedom came at great price that shouldn't be taking lightly. Only after an open national discussion, with the consensus necessary for a constitutional amendment, should the government be given this power over us that they are taking now in secret.
It's naive to pretend the trade-off doesn't exist already or that a decision hasn't been made. The trade-off has always existed- a warrant can be produced to violate your privacy. It's just a question of what the procedure should be, what information can be searched, what situations it can be used in, etc.
I don't think there is much opposition in the general population to searches where probable cause exists. But that is indeed a trade-off between security and privacy.