The NSA spy program has finally been ruled unconstitutional..?

Question

The Dept. of Justice has said, "the Terrorist Surveillance Program is an essential tool for the intelligence community in the War on Terror."

Whatever happened to...
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." -Ben Franklin??

What scares you more? The off chance that you may be killed by a terrorist? Or the very real probability of leaving your children and grandchildren with an all-powerful oppressive dictatorship instead of a government which is ruled by the people and limited in power by common sense rules?

Would you rather live a substandard life in which you're guaranteed you'll die safely in your warm bed? Or a life that can take you as far as your ambition will take you but that comes with a chance that you may *GASP!* die?

A man or a mouse? Which are you?

Answer 1

You know what gets me most.

Not the fact that so many people here see no problem with constitutional violations or that government ignoring its own laws. That's just sad.

What gets me most is the fact that the administration could have done all of the same surveillance, just by following the rules. Every part of the NSA surveillance program could have been done within the limits set by FISA and the Omnibus Crime Control Act. Everything could have been done legally.

Bush just didn't want to follow the laws. So he threw a temper tantrum and said he wasn't going to. Not because he couldn't. Just because he didn't want to.

And for some reason, people are OK with that. OK with someone just ignoring the laws because he doesn't like them.

And what makes it even more amusing, is that these are generally the same people who think the system is too light on criminals.

Answer 2

Now relax. The War on Terror does not hinge on these wiretaps. The government can take the extra few minutes to go to the secret FISA court and get a warrant from now on. Second, we are certainly not on our way to dictatorship. This is just a normal "check and balance" occurring in our government. The Executive (Bush) is trying to expand his power etc. And Congress and the Courts are reeling him in. Sure, I see your points. Sure, I understand nobody wants to give up any liberty. Sure, authoritarian governments are bad. But I do believe you are completely overreacting and exaggerating. This is simply normal politics and government governing. A new program was tried out and it seems to conflict with the Consitution. Well, guess what? The Constution wins as it always does. Freedom wins. Democracy wins. Some may say eventually it will lose. But the government will say the program is "essential," when they will do just fine without it. It's all politics anyway. If the terrorists strike tomorrow, the Republicans will use this to say look the liberals are not keeping us safe!! It's just partisan politics to keep Republicans in office. You're acting like something horrible is happening here and we're on the road to Fascism. Relax. Best wishes on your road to relaxation and a much-needed worry-free vacation.

Answer 3

excuse me would like to know what liberty did we give up? how did your life become substandard because of this policy? if we were not allowed to call certain people then your rights would have been taken away. if you are calling and planning attacks then you are breaking the law as much if you sat in a group and did it. after the next time the terrorist hits will you tell their families that you are sorry for supporting the terrorist? the federal government job is to protect this nation. least can recognize a trap and avoid it rather then putting neck out for a piece of pretend cheese.

Answer 4

certain. And more beneficial than that, a contravention of latest federal regulation. study 50 united statesC. §1801 et al. (FISA) Warrantless wiretapping is prohibited if all and sundry US citizen or resident alien is a celebration to the verbal replace. study 18 united statesC. § 2511: Compliance with FISA "often is the unique ability via which digital surveillance... might want to be performed". the unhappy element is, the administration might want to have carried out all of an analogous issues and performed all of an analogous surveillance interior the regulations, only via following the right due procedure. Bush only chosen to ignore the regulations, because he did not imagine the authorities branch should be restricted via Congress or the courts. i'm not so particular the perfect court docket will part with Bush in this one, in spite of the reality that. they have slapped him down a number of circumstances for violating federal regulations and overstepping constitutional protections. And right here, he did it because (in his personal words) he did not imagine the court docket must have any authority to study authorities moves. And the perfect court docket won't be able to enable that variety of concepts-set slide. The precedent it would want to set, that the authorities can willfully violate federal regulations any time he needs without judicial oversight, might want to damage the checks and balances that our entire constitutional equipment relies upon upon to operate.

Answer 5

They can still have their 'Terrorist Surveillance Program" they just have to fallow the Constitution and get a warrant,we shouldn't have to give up freedom to get a terrorist besides that is what they want, right Junior.

Answer 6

scenario-- joint task force creeping on your land at night-- thermal imagers piercing your walls and ceiling-- surveillance equiptment in your trees-- damage to those trees with axes and climbing spikes-- slimeballs with night vision and infra-red peering into your house while your making whoopie. the terrorists are these lowlifes who scare the neighbors.damage your property and not be held accountable for their crimes.i have seen this so called national security and patriot act is all about. these fools do what they want without a warrant or court order. the use of aerial platforms to bombard your family with radiation and lasers.the time will come when you will pay for crimes comitted against the elderly and innocent. when you trespass upon my land-- you play by my rules.payback will come your way soon and those who trash our liberties can go to hell

Answer 7

do you really think that that will stop them from listening ? they will continue to do their job regardless of what is ruled on in court. they will just hide it a little better.
our laws are being used against us. the aclu is a communist christian hunting group.

Answer 8

Don't you realize that at this very moment we are in danger of being ATTACKED BY TERRORISTS!?

Wouldn't you rather let the government tap a few phones than risk being ATTACKED BY TERRORISTS!?

And if they have to kidnap a few people from other countries and detain them for awhile and torture them and deny them due process or access to a lawyer, well isn't that better than us being ATTACKED BY TERRORISTS!?

And if we have to pay a trillion dollars that we don't have to fight the terrorists in Iraq, and if our children and grandchildren have to pay off that debt, isn't that better than being ATTACKED BY TERRORISTS!?

And if maybe we give up a bit of our first amendment rights, and allow the government to reign in the media a bit, isn't that better than being ATTACKED BY TERRORISTS!?

And even if we have to set up some internment camps and indefinitely lock up arab-Americans and ACLU members and liberals and atheists, isn't that better than being ATTACKED BY TERRORISTS!?

So I just hope you commie pinko, tree-hugger, bleeding heart, arab-loving, terrorist-coddling, liberals have the common sense to vote Republican in every election from now on because I'm warning you, if you don't we're going to be ATTACKED BY TERRORISTS!

Answer 9

A man. I want my liberity back.