Based on Mr. Bush' statement regarding opening mail without proper Constitutional protections afforded in the form of a search warrant. What would constitute an exigent circumstance? I understand that there are certain situations regarding intelligence gathering where time is of the essence, but we are talking about mail here. It is physical and can easily be quarantined until a search warrant can be obtained. I am a conservative and I do support legitimate intellignece gathering for the purposes of security, but frankly this whole thing reads like an Orwell novel to me with a huge potential for abuse of power.
For those who have not read Mr. Bush' statement on the matter read paragraph 6 of this link.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/12/20061220-6.html
2007-01-05 01:06:21 · 9 answers · asked by Bryan 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Okay People: I do not object to the government opening mail. I object to them doing it without a search warrant. We are not talking about telephone calls that once gone are lost forever. We are talking about physical pieces of mail. Wow I hate to admit it, but I have to agree with many Liberals on this, there are people who are willing to let the government usurp whatever power they want so long as they invoke terrorism as a cause. Frankly, this attitude scares me more than the terrorists do.
2007-01-05 03:26:13 · update #1
It depends on the circumstances. The 4th Amendment protects us from "unreasonable" search and siezure. The founding fathers didn't put the word "unreasonable" in there for no reason, they knew what they were doing.
Why would the government opening your mail concern you as a potential abuse of power? They already have the income tax which forces you to report your whole life to them once a year. And you're worried about the mail?!?
They force you to participate in a retirement program (social security), they force you to give to charity (welfare), they force your employer to pay you an arbitrary wage, regardless of your actual worth to the company (minimum wage), and you're worried about the mail?!?
Don't get me wrong, I don't want the government reading my mail without a reasonable cause. However, with everything else they already control and abuse, the mail is the least of my worries when it comes to a potential of abuse.
2007-01-05 01:22:24 · answer #1 · answered by Aegis of Freedom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes I do believe it is an infringement of our rights. Many people will say "Well I've got nothing to hide, let them read my mail." This is the same thing we portrayed those evil Nazis and Communists doing over and over in movies and on TV. But now somehow it is acceptable????!! What happens when conservatives have to go up against a president that they don't like. That president will be able to search their mail because they might be a threat to national security. It's funny, they preach about spreading freedom abroad but now I don't even have the freedom to send mail in this country. This is complete doublespeak. (If you don't know what that means, read 1984)
2016-05-23 05:40:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with a previous answer pertaining to "unreasonable" searches. I think this is a time in our history, where we simply cannot trust our own citizens. If they have to rip up 100 pieces of my mail in order to prevent another attack, let them have at it. I know this has been said many times since the introduction of the Patriot Act, but if you are not doing anything to hide, why do you so firmly object? It may save your life, and our freedom.
2007-01-05 03:08:10 · answer #3 · answered by j_pierce_823 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All these privacy invasions have come about in the name of "anti-terrorism". Who could be against that? However, every law enforcement agency in the country is taking full advantage to snoop around and find other various violations that they want to crack down on. I call that "selective enforcement". They've got people scared to go out of their house. I wonder how many other "incidental" laws they can find being broken as they snoop out "terrorists".
2007-01-05 01:14:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is another assault on the Constitution by George W as the American people sit meekly by as right after right is taken away.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ai7YjWWRSRVG..dkoIIpo8vsy6IX?qid=20070105052919AAFihpd
2007-01-05 01:35:03 · answer #5 · answered by Frank R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. It, like the patriot act, defies the 4th amendment and as such is illegal.
2007-01-05 01:12:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no way and if it does happen watch how the theft rate will go up from people stealing in post offices
2007-01-05 01:18:56 · answer #7 · answered by C live 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What's worse is that if they opened your mail and forge them. Then they'll arrest you for being a terrorist...
2007-01-05 01:15:06 · answer #8 · answered by roadwarrior 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bush seems to think he can write or interpret his own constitution. why is he being allowed to get away with it?
2007-01-05 01:21:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋