Why does the FBI spy on US citizens that disagree with the current administration?

Question

I saw it on some show about a year ago. Some guy spoke-out against the War on Terrorism, the FBI was talking to him a week later. Some Girl had an pro-communist/Anti-Bush poster in her bedroom, the FBI was talking to her about that.

Answer 1

hi,

People say the fbi doesn't spy on us citizens that disagree with the bush administration. These people are on crack (or worse). Of course it does. Neither your question nor your source claimed that the FBI spies on "everyone" who disagrees with the Bush administration, so everyone who answered you claiming you were wrong because the FBI couldn't possibly do that is just wrong. They put words in your mouth, they made up something to argue with, then proved what they made up to be untrue... that's an error of argumentation (or a logical fallacy) called a strawman argument.

Anyway, of course the FBI investigates citizens who disagree with the Bush administration. I'm sure that almost everybody the FBI investigates disagrees with the Bush administration! I mean 99% of the world population disagrees with the Bush administration, including most of the US citizens.

I wouldn't say the FBI is full of corruption, but since it is an institution made up of human beings, I am sure there is some corruption, and thus I am sure there are some occasions where a person is targetted for FBI investigation not because the government sees him as a threat to the welfare of this country, but simply the agents involved want to give him/her a hard time and make him miserable and/or scared. It's funny or ironic to think that in some cases, hopefully very rarely, the FBI terrorizes (scares them by investigating them for no legitimate reason) US citizens. I'm sure it happens, in this country, just like in any other country.

Answer 2

You saw it on a show--- I got to that part, and decided that's enough...

Pro communism, and speaking out against the war-- hmm.. I doubt they were really visited by the FBI..

Gimmie a source. If it was on national television, it's bound to be on a search engine.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that can't happen, but... lets put it this way. If you buy any book that tells about the safety and security of the internet, or computers and hacking, missiles and weapons, any type of firearm magazine, your name is going to be checked by the FBI, and your name will be posted on a roster.

Likewise, for all these "bad" words I've just typed, as soon as I hit "submit" or.. if these or any of 30,000 random words are to be entered into a chat domain or through email, and automatic device set up by the NSA (National Security Agency) will kick on and survey the following 30,000 characters. It was classified for about 17 years before the classification date expired in '97.

America isn't free-- but then again it is. If you're not doing anything wrong, there is nothing to worry about. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be monitored by security than to not, and have another terror alert.

I could careless if they catch me whacking off.... just next time you do, wave for them. And hope that the guy watching the satallite camera has fun...

--Rob

Answer 3

If you are looking for disaffected people who might want to damage the country, you certainly would not be looking among the crowd of happy contented folks.

That's what today is called "profiling" ..looking among the people who, by class, have been known to do the rotten things you are investigating. There's nothing different about that. People use a form of "profiling" every day when you shop, bye a book, go to a movie, check in a hotel, rent a car, etc.etc.etc.

You judge the item based upon your experience with the items. If someone tells you that John J. Grocer is an honest person who sells quality food, you want to get your groceries from him. If you are told that Peter B. Wimp is a cheat and does rotten work, you make sure you don't hire him.

That's all PROFILING, judging one person or activity by its reputation, by class,.."all pit-bulls are dangerous".

The FBI is more likely to investigate you if you have a record of some bad deal. They might also want to investigate the people you associate with since, "birds of a feather, fly together:

Ergo:If you don't want the FBI investigating you, don't get a rotten reputation or hang around with criminals.

If the FBI had investigated the gang of hijackers who flew panes into the Trade Center, they might have stopped it from happening.

Which would you rather have, a police department who waits until you child is shot before they arrest the bastard or a department that stops him from doing it?

Answer 4

I think that 60% of Americans are disagreeing with bush at some point these days that is a large number of people there is no possible way that they can spy on all of them. Don't listen to every thing you see on TV you don't get the hole story. these people probably did more than they told you if the FBI actually paid them a visit. Time to grow up and use some reason when you think of this stuff.

Answer 5

Basically it would be because they disagree with the current administration.
However, they don't have the time or the manpower to simply spie on everybody.
Especially in times like the present, when so many, in fact disagree.
They do place buttons (bait) in areas, they feel threats, be it minor to serious may arise.
If/or when these buttons are pressed it automatically draws the attention of those concerned,
You can rest assured they take those things very seriously.
9-11-01 has set 1984 into reality.
It appears we have (become) or are (becoming) a them-us nation as we sit watching all our forefathers fought so desperately to obtain, go by the wayside.
Alas, what is that old saying,"We reap what we sow."

Answer 6

We who disagree with the president are dangerous people. We will make sure our vote is counted this time. The FBI works for the president so they will do what he says. I can deal with the FBI but if he ever sics the IRS on me I am going to take up arms and move to the hills and take out anybody that comes close to me. Bush knows this from listening to my phone sex. I sure wish he would pay half the bill as it is only fair.

Answer 7

This is a very valid question. Why indeed?? It feels very 1960's in this country. Our government fears its own people more than any other enemy and somehow exercising the American prerogative to disagree with your government has been labled unpatriotic by the same people who for 8 years bashed the president of the United States and made demagogues like Rush Limbaugh famous.

Conservatives were allowed to be anti-administration. Why should we Liberals be accorded less freedoms?

Answer 8

Sometimes it's better that we just don't know. I don't think it's an exclusive relationship between people who disagree with our current admin, and who is allegedly spied on, I think it's more of a situation that maybe in our everyday dealings we associate with somebody who's legitimacy on any level might be questioned and we don't even know it. Say for instance I have a vehicle repaired at a service station who's finances come under question by the IRS. Ironically I need major repairs and they are substantial in cost, say 4,500 dollars or so. Which I think we could all agree is above the average repair cost for your average corner repair shop. Turns out they are laundering money for an organization who is known to finance something our government considers a threat, now they see that there is an abnormally large charge - so they check you out, see if the repairs are legit or not. So where you spied on, I don't know - but it happened to me, and I don't feel violated. If only our governments attention to their own spending was as attentive as it was to mine, then maybe we wouldn't be paying 3.40 for a gallon of petro.

Answer 9

The simple answer is that they don't! The government couldn't possibly spy on everyone. It is a fundamental right as a citizen to complain about government. And remember the govrnments main reason for being is to provide for the common defense .Spying is just one tool being used for that purpose.

Answer 10

once again - a question is posed by an idiot that only listens to the liberal media instead of thinking for themselves. Alot of people disagree with the current administration and they arent being spied on - not to mention the fact that "disagreeing with the government" isnt a reason for being monitored - not even in China anymore actually so grow up and think for yourself