How free are we these days when our phones are tapped and every corner there is a camera is watching us?

Question

Do governments using the staged scenario of public paranoia to their advantages? Are we giving up our most precious freedom in a silver plater with our own hands?
I remember in 1970 we were accusing Russian government for tapping phones, and watching peoples moves, taking people to jail, torture without having the right to have court appeal.
26 years later, under the name of National Security suddenly things look the same in this land of free and home of the brave!

For those of you that can not see beyond phone tappe. I'm talking about giving government green light to do whatever they want whenever they want with our civil liberties.They cause the fear so you would not ask any questions. You believe whatever they do is for your best interest.
Wake up people.
And yes I know for fact that my line is tapped they can't even connect it right, you can hear the echos. My birth place is part the world that was declared as axes of evil, and my conversations with my relatives is not about nuclear weapon and war heads.
Imagine your name or your look could by mistake take you to a place you don't want to be. Then you would think twice. Think abou it.

FACT:
people who found themselves on the no fly list have no way of finding out why they were put on the list, or how to get off.

FACT:
After 9/11, Thousands of Muslim, South Asian and Arab men were detained. Not one has bee convicted of a crime of terrorism.

FACT:
32 Million Americans have been subjected to profiling.

FACT:
more than 3.5 million Americans are Middle East descent.

Answer 1

big brothere is even searching your mail now! We should never trade an ounce of liberty for any mount of secutity as soon we will have neither! These are just some of the reasons the founders did not trust government and neither should we

Answer 2

You know what.. it's people like you and a few others who spend to much time listening to other people who think like you do that manage to get a little information and twist it into some nightmare.. Why in the world would some government agency want to tap your phone line? Unless you are involved in some illegal activities or leave the impression that you are, no one, other than your family and friends, are going to give a hoot about who you are talking too. As far as the video cameras are concerned, they probably do more to protect you than you have ever dreamed possible. Today, with so many extremist trying to hurt as many Americans as they can, don't you feel it is better for the government to be aware of them than it is to let them run free? If some islamic jerk were threating you, the first thing you do is call the police. If you get victimized by one of them, the first thing you say is where is the government? You want to complain and moan about the steps that have been taken so that you can go to church without being gunned down in the street, yet you want that freedom. In this country you can do what you want, when you want to and so long as it is legal, no one will say a thing. You haven't lost anything, you've gained a greater security.. this is not the 70's any longer, this is today and you should be glad that you have someone watching out for you.. I know I am.. stop listening to the fools and start thinking for yourself.

Answer 3

The government is not interested in what you prefer on your pizza when you call the local pizza shop for delivery. Be assured, your phone isn't "tapped."
If, however, you intend to call a terrorist state or a known terrorist, you can't be too sure - and I personally hope that the call is being monitored and investigated.
And no one is hiring people to monitor those "cameras on every corner" - but if you are the victim of a crime, the video tape is sure awful handy in a court of law.
In short, how has your freedoms or life really and truly been affected by America's tightened security?
With the exception of air travel, I have personally seen very little difference.

Answer 4

1.
There's no reason for my phone to be tapped. It could be right now, but I don't see any reason to be worried at the moment.

2. Around *every* corner? Now you're just exaggerating!

3.
"Staged scenario" my left foot!
-We aren't really giving up too much.

Torturing... Well, if those people are really terrorists and we do have a legitimate reason to detain them, then I guess that's okay in the right amounts. The rest (tapping phones, etc.) seem okay, as long as there's a good reason behind it.

Answer 5

Where do you live...Britain? I live in America, and though I disagree with my government tapping phones, I know it won't last for long. Sometimes during war Presidents have been known to kick the Constitution to the curb...Wilson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, to name a few.
I am more worried about people wanting more and more government interventions in other areas, such as health care, social security, etc.
If you trust the government so much as to allow it to make decisions for you, how can you argue when those decisions are unconstitutional or at the least, trot all over our right to pursue happiness..

Answer 6

Inquiring minds want to know!

Added 01/06/07- On a serious note, I hope you do not believe the garbage being spun! Ever since Saint Ronnie started his huge blunder of the "War on Drugs" every single thing you are crying about now has slowly been increased and most by Slick Willie!
The Government and the phone companies worked out a little game of "Checking Phone lines" to "Make sure they are functioning properly". What this amounts to is: They listen in on say one out a hundred for a short period of time. If, by chance during the "check Up" they hear anything suspicious, they contact the authorities!
Combine this with rights to search any vehicle at any time Etc. Etc. and you will find all that is going on now is actually refinements to help in International situations and inter-agency.

BTW-A Game Warden can legally walk into any house anytime he wants!

Answer 7

I'm not worried about this stuff happening, for one reason, it's not. Not ALL of our phones are tapped and I'd be shocked if someone found out they were. I bet less than 100 people are tapped by our government right now. If anything, the cameras allowme to feel safer. I have no problem with them.

Comparing our government to that of Russia is a little out on the limb. This was at an age when we couldn't trust them at all, let alone now.

Answer 8

I agree that it's overdone, but the only reason they use these security measures is to protect Americans.
Cameras on the streets catch reckless or drunk drivers that could eventually cost someone their life. I doubt that the government seriously has people listening in on every single U.S citizen, but wiretapping is used, for example, to try and catch terrorist plots or suspicious illegal activity. I mean, you won't be reported to a government official for gossiping with friends.
Personally, if it helps prevent another 9/11 situation, whether it be a year from now or a decade from now, I think it's worth it.

Answer 9

People are so full of themselves, they think the US government is really interested in their silly conversations. They honestly think that the US government is going to spend billions of dollars to tap their phones, take their pictures, and watch their every move. There are satellites that do the same, they have been there for years. They can even take pictures inside homes using high tech equipment. Do you honestly think the USA is interested in how pretty you look? I don't think so. They would really like to know what the people are doing that are willing to strap that bomb on and kill you. Would you spend a billion dollars just to hear my conversation? I am an American posing no national threat. Would you like to have millions of pictures messing in your data bank? I really don't think so. Sorry but John Q. Public doesn't rate this.

Answer 10

You know your phone is being tapped? Why? I keep hearing of rights taken away? Who's? You can express any opinion you want, participate in any election, join a political party and not be arrested. Bush's biggest political critics have all been elected to office and one in particular made speaker of the house. So where is this loss of freedom?

Answer 11

You're absolutely right, and believe me when I tell you that none of this is lost on the rest of the world. They're watching closely to see just how far the U.S. is willing to go down that road.

Today's America is looking more and more like the East Germany of the 60's.