The Burlesque Show of Bush & Co: Shredding Our Constitution, Shedding our Secrets, Stripping our Liberties

Leave it to the professionals to protect us. Don't you worry, unless you have something to hide!
Why not give up your freedom if this would keep you safe? Come on, what's more important, some ..liberal & probably mostly theoretical notion of freedom, or, being safe here in our home? In a practical sense, it's easier to leave fighting the terrorists in a war with no fronts & no end to the experts than to worry about it yourself. Besides, as a nation we've already decided that we don't really want many of our freedoms & civil rights. Our actions speak louder than our words. Most Americans don't care about voting and they show it; especially if you don't count those who are single-issue [ie. ban the homosexuals from making our marriage worthless; the Democrats from taking away our Bibles] and very infrequent voters. Just note how many will cast a ballot in November in this critical election. Maybe those who don't vote approve what's going on! I bet you that you haven't thought of it in this light.

Right Chief, I'm on the case. America is safe from KAOS, but next time we talk we should use the Cone Of Silence... I have the feeling someone is eavesdropping in my shoe conversations.

Americans don't care about reality, to the extend that they want to be aware of the truth if truth is uncomfortable. We are a people who like comfort, and bigness, and splurging, and speed. It's rather comforting to have a feeling of being taken care of. Why, even our president feels the truth, doesn't think about it. If it feels good do it. I'm all for feeling good too! I'm a hedonist. I believe life should be about joy not suffering--especially unnecessarily--but some common sense should prevail. I can't, for example, assume I'm a rich person and live the posh life by maxing my credit cards today. The pain later isn't worth it. But, who lives for ever? Better enjoy this day and let others worry about tomorrow. Who knows, I may become rich by then. Why, act like most Americans who don't vote their reality but their dreams!

Those others have been proactive in the massive surveillance of Americans. I'm sure President Bush mis-spoke when he said his government is spying on terrorists only, or on phone calls with overseas connections. At any rate, Big Brother can only be effective if we give in and give up. However, once He gets what he wants it's very difficult to return to the land of the free. Americans in a recent poll said that they are willing to give the President anything he needs to keep us safe. Anything! [some readers were offended when, in another posting, I asked whether babies on ..skewers would be an appropriate measure under the "anything" permit the majority were willing to give the President. Obviously that would be extreme, but we've already crossed the line of legality and, I'd argue, of sanity]

So, when the government is monitoring the phone calls of 200 million Americans, is an appropriate action for safety's sake. The law? Bush said the FISA Court--established in 1979 and Congress amended its rules to make it easier for the government to get permission to eavesdrop, even after the fact--does not reflect the needs of today! He had to break the law in order to protect us. He said that much. Our Attorney General, who supposedly represents the law & order and the citizens of this country, told Congress that he wouldn't "rule out" the domestic spying program. The telcos had a choice to comply or not, but they thought Americans want us to find the terrorists in our midst and it never hurts to make a buck or two. Our government is paying (that's our money) the telcos to spy on us! [click this link for more info & telco contacts]

I feel like singing, oh say does that spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave... Ben Franklin is so out of touch with today's reality when he said that "those who are willing to sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither." Or, maybe Americans have changed over the years. And, every time we remove a freedom and make Big Brother stronger, our national psyche changes. Authoritarian/totalitarian regimes produce a certain kind of citizen. Wouldn't you act much differently if you knew that your activities were being monitored? Perhaps you wouldn't mind a little ..attitude adjustment if you believed your safety increased. Some day, you could end up in a locked cell, for your protection of course. Or, for the protection of the society at large! Better be safe than sorry! And, you don't have to be friends with Al Queda. Your criticism of the war, our President, or, simply your resistance to comply, is a threat to our national cohesion. You either with us or against us. It's that simple!

Amendment IV, US Constitution:
Τhe 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.

ADDENDUM: As I've said many times before, despite all the complaining about the quality of the politics in our country, collectively we get what we deserve. The quality of our democracy isn't independent of the citizens' attitudes and actions. Those of us who are very concerned about the government's domestic spying program should be aware that we are in the minority! Only 35% of us think this illegal NSA program is unacceptable, while 66% say they're not bothered by this, and 63% said it's an "acceptable way to investigate terrorism." Here's the latest poll that scoffs at Ben Franklin's adage.