I would like further clarification on privacy of rights, in the United States?

Question

The former answer to this query/question left many doors open.
Civil rights have long been issues without complete resolution, so all of us must make decisions based on debate and compromise,
not what's in it for me!
Ever since 9/11 struck and the initialization of the Patriot Act has
more concern been generated for civil rights recognition.
We will have to give up some of our "rights" to help the FBI further
investigate items like mosques, and other religious sanctuaries.
Our preservation of our current freedoms and rights are in jeopardy, as it is, and we need all the help from the authorities we can get!


Donald H. Sites
[e-mail]

Answer 1

The Patriot Act itself only intrudes on some areas of privacy. That's bad enough, but it doesn't, in and of itself, take away any constitutional rights.

The problem is that many in power (at least, as of Monday) felt that constitutional protections can and should be ignored, if they might possibly result in people being safer. However, that's unconstitutional, by definition.

We only have those rights we can defend. And only those freedoms we choose to defend. Once we have abandonded those rights and those freedoms, they are lost. Once, and for all of us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In honor of Pastor Martin Niemöller:

First they came for the 6th Amendment, but I hadn't been accused of a crime, so I didn't object to denial of counsel.

Then they came for the 4th Amendment, but I wasn't talking to anyone overseas, so they wouldn't be monitoring me.

Then they came for the rest of the 4th Amendment, but I only called my mother, so there was nothing suspicious in my phone records.

Then they came for the 1st Amendment, but I never associated with criminals, so I didn't worry about being convicted purely based on what other people might do.

Then they came for the 14th Amendment, but I never really understood the rules for Due Process (and wasn't allowed an attorney), so I didn't object.

Then they came for the rest of the 1st Amendment, but I never told anyone about what the government was doing, so again I remained silent.

Then they came for the 5th Amendment, ...... and I no longer had the right to remain silent.

Answer 2

Here's all the clarification of privacy rights you need.

There is no right of privacy. It doesn't exist.

I know, the USSC in Roe v. Wade said there was a right of privacy that emanated from a penumbra in the Constitution, but I've read the Constitution, and there are no penumbras there, nor does anything emanate from anywhere, it is only statements of recognition of things which exist independent of any such emanations. In short, they were looking for a reason, and made one up.

You have the right to be left alone, but not the right to not be looked at or ignored by any individual or government. You have the right to speak, but no right to demand anyone listen or not listen.

See, where you're lost is in calling on the authorities to preserve your rights. The authorities can't do that. They can't create them, they can't defend them, they can either observe them or not. When you look to the government to defend a right you have, you've already surrendered it.

Answer 3

I can tell you my understanding of privacy rights but it may make you cry...In fact- in the interest of protecting everyone's privacy...

Say "hypothetically" that I have this friend
who married a guy that owns his own business= Company A
And also works for a reseller=Company B
and the "A" business is a total fraud, a shell, ie they do not manufacture the product they claim to & in fact are resellers of products this guy gets from company B.

My friend was invited to fill-in at her husband's company and stayed approx 2 years. Both A and B are at the SAME location, so she overhears "odd" transactions, sees him write phony bills of lading to avoid sales tax, and then discovers the company checkbook is absent ANY checks to vendors. She becomes convinced he is embezzling.

I am an accountant, so my friend comes to me w/ her "evidence". I audited the paper trail for 9 weeks straight.

Meanwhile, she confronts her H and demands answers about the excess cash he hidden in his car & around the house and other strange behaviors.

He storms out , stays gone 4 days. Then he calls her, crying, and says he was afraid she'd leave him if she knew where the cash comes from. He said it was laundered money. I swear to you, I heard it myself.

My friend goes to her local police dept. in total fear of how she may be "assumed" to be in on it. The police say there is no real "proof" other than SHE says he said it to HER, so they can not even verify the boxes of paperwork she has to back it up because it would be "an INVASION of HIS PRIVACY".

THAT'S Privacy laws in the USA folks. It's not fair but is IS "legal". Likely the same goes if you want to report your neighbor, boss. or best friend for making bombs in their basement.

sorry this was so long

AND- big thank you to corogryph for the poem he submitted.

Answer 4

Quit yer cryin'. Seriously.