Did the Soviets & the Nazis claim, “Only traitors & criminals will object to having their phones tapped”?

Question

Did they try the old saw that "If you aren't doing anything illegal, then you have nothing to worry about our eavesdropping."?

Where have I heard that line of reasoning before? Somehow it all seems familiar.

Answer 1

Yes they did actually.

Yes, this sure does sound oddly familiar... almost like I just heard this on here from republican fascists.

Answer 2

The argument that "if you don't have anything to hide, why should you care" is so irrational, it's laughable. For all those who try to claim that as a justification, let me give you an analogy.

A total stranger breaks into your home, sits down on your couch, and starts watching your TV. Then he leaves. If you don't have anything to hide, why should that bother you. Just because it's criminal shouldn't matter if no actual harm is done.

Or another analogy. You have some tools in your garage that you haven't used in years, and don't plan on using any time soon. A stranger breaks into your garage and takes those tools. You're not using them, so no harm done. Just because it's criminal shouldn't matter, right?

Or another. A person orders child pornography magazines from another country. The magazines are very old. The children pictured in them died 50 years ago. The person just sits in their home and fantasizes about having sex with children, but never is in the presence of any living child. They've hurt nobody, so no harm done, right?

One more. A person sneaks into the US. They don't tell the INS they're here. They get a job, pay all their taxes, pay rent, and otherwise live their life without anyone knowing they're an illegal alien. So what's the problem. Just because it's criminal shouldn't matter if no actual harm is done.

That's the point about the warrantless wiretapping. It's illegal. It is a willful violation of federal law.

So, why do people who are so opposed to other illegal activity think it's OK for our own elected officials, especially those who have sworn an oath to uphold the law, to break the law without being held accountable for their actions under the law.

Answer 3

The first reference I can recall of that particular saying was either Nixon or Joseph McCarthy, during the McCarthy communism trials.

And no, it went much further than that. Some Germans and Russians did have phones in WW2, and USSR lasted much past WW2.

The idea that only criminals have something to hide, so everyone should be willing to submit to observation or search, was present when the Bill of Rights was written.

Answer 4

I'm a little surprised at the lack of concern about presidential powers, and not taking an interest in exploring, the how, and why. Even with the court ruling: Warrant less wire tapping ruled unconstitutional So many said "Oh well I have nothing to hide." Americans are becoming indifferent, and complicit, Don't know what will make them get interested and active.

Answer 5

No, they did not worry about phones in those times.

Where you heard this is from your demented mind.

I have nothing to hide, nor do I converse with terrorist suspects and therefore my phone will not be tapped.

If you converse with terrorist suspects your phone calls will be monitored, as they should be. If you do not then your calls will not be monitored. Is there any part of that you do not understand?

Paranoia is a serious illness and it sounds like you need some professional help.

Answer 6

George Bush was saying things similar to this when he demanded that government powers be expanded to allow for warrantless phone tapping and other forms of espionage against U.S. citizens. Every sort of tyrant will demand this power, especially the bad ones, the ones whose abuses make them hated among the citizenry.

I know that there was a lot of domestic spying in the Soviet Union. Russians used to leave their homes and take walks, speaking quietly and looking for secret policemen. If they met anyone suspicious during the walk, they'd quickly shift the conversation to which brand of vodka had the biggest kick or the most flavor.

If Soviet Russians had to talk indoors, they would turn on the faucets and play music to cover what they said. And, in such cases, the NKVD or the KGB would be curious about the subject of conversation.

I don't know the extent to which covert wiretapping was used in National Socialist Germany. I assume that it was used to some extent, but I don't have any definite knowledge of it.

Answer 7

Is that you tapping my phone? Or is it the Raven on the pallets above my chamber door. I hear a tapping, and nothing more.

Answer 8

Did they say that? I've never seen anything like that in the history books. How many phones were available to the Soviets. Further, if they did say that, what does it matter? We're not in Nazi Germany or in the former Soviet Union. You're comparing apples and oranges.

Answer 9

i actually feel myself swelling with pride, in some of my fellow americans(except that first person) after reading some of the responses to the question. i guess i don't have anything to say, thats not allready been said. a message to the goverment: stop wirestapping!

Answer 10

The Soviets and Nazis spent there time killing millions of people for little reason,
GET SOME PERSPECTIVE!!!!!!!!!!!