The NSA is operating carte blanche by spying on Americans without insite by any other branch of government?

Question

Most Democrats have no objection to the idea of spying but feel there must be oversite. How do you feel. Does this worry you and do you feel that when the founding fathers incorporated this into the constitution they wanted George Bush to do an end run around this important check and balance. In other words do the ends justify the means. If they do what other rights do you think we can give up.

Answer 1

There IS Congressional oversight of the NSA. That oversight is performed by members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. All off these meetings are closed to the press and the public, for obvious reasons.

I assume you are referring to the intercepts of calls between known overseas terrorists, and persons in the U.S. The members of Congress responsible for NSA oversight were aware of this program.

It is not the President who has overstepped his authority, it was Congress when it created the FISA court. The FISA court is unconstitutional, because it interferes with the Authority granted to the President by the Constitution.

The NSA does not have carte blanche, and even if they did, there is simply no technical means in existence to monitor all telephone conversations. If someone in my country is talking to a known terrorist overseas, I WANT the government to listen in!

Answer 2

We're just about done as far as the rights thing goes. It was a great gig while it lasted, but face it, ever since FDR rights have been going the way of the buggy whip.

All that big government comes at a price - our rights. We were warned, yet we let it happen anyway. It's our fault.

Nowadays, people are more interested in entitlements than rights. Government exists to provide entitlements and wealth transfers. If you don't believe me, look at the last budget. It totals $2.8 trillion. $546 biillion for social security, $711 billion for other transfers and $427 billion in aid to states (those are also transfers). That's just over 60% of the budget. Defense clocks in at $219 billion.

Need I say more?

Answer 3

Your question sounds like a token political gesture and altogether evades the actual activity of the NSA in conjunction with all levels putting policy into effect to street level.

This is dishonest. Rights to give up? What rights were present as far back as 1972? 1965? I'll fire if you will. Matter of fact. I fired already.

I noticed many of our dear questioners " Taking French Leave "
or not answering at all.

As the people, so the leader, I think.

I'm personally interested in reobtaining my passport. I hope this suffices.

Answer 4

Ben Franklin said something about if ya give up freedom for safety you deserve neither. He spoke for me years before I existed.

Answer 5

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5948263607579389947&q=alex+jones