How, exactly, will the ability of the FBI to read my email, listen to my phone conversations...?

Question

How, exactly, will the ability of the FBI to read my email, listen to my phone conversations, and to break into my house to conduct stealth searches protect me from terrorism?

If, by giving up a little freedom and some of our rights, we can buy a little safety, as so many in government and the media keep telling us, does that mean that if we give up ALL our rights and freedoms, we'll be made completely safe?
If someone opens fire at a busy McDonalds, which would save more lives -- phoning the police quickly or a couple of armed customers?

If a deranged person, terrorist or not, decides to detonate a bomb where you happen to be, how will your having given up your freedom for safety save you?

Answer 1

Trust me, the government is not interested in you so don't flatter yourself. They could care less about the conversations and emails of a regular joe-shmoe. The government has better things to do.
Unless you were planning on some kind of terrorist scheme...but then again if you were you wouldn't have the time to be farting around on yahoo questions...hahaha!

The government should have the right to do those things to protect us from terrorits and it has already proven effective.

Answer 2

First and foremost you need to ask yourself WHY the FBI or any other investigative agency would be concerned about YOUR emails and telephone calls.

The Department of Homeland Security and the US Government make it perfectly clear that it's not the "average citizen" conducting routine communications that gets their attention.

To understand a bit more, the technology used to "grab" bits and pieces of communicated transmissions that alert the authorities is what initiates a specific inquiry and a more indepth investigation.

Using certain words, terms, or phrases through the communications prompts "red flags" that are futher investigated.

The government agencies that investigate terrorism don't look for communications involving dinner recipes or conversations with estranged boy/girlfriends.

Most attacks against the United States and other countries around the world were planned well in advance. The communications used to plan those attacks are used everyday by terrorists. These are the types of communications that are "intercepted" and eventually listened to through wire intercepts by means of search warrants.

Because the majority of the public are law abiding citizens, they are not the ones that need to be concerned about losing their rights or freedoms. Just the opposite, they are the ones whose rights and freedoms are being protected.

Quit worrying about someone listening to you talking sweet nothings to your girlfriend or boyfriend....the government is NOT interested.

Answer 3

No. I don't think you are wrong. My husband does this occasionally, looking over my shoulder when I'm online. And it bugs me. I know he doesn't totally get it, that I feel like he is violating my privacy. He doesn't listen in on my phone conversations. And I often share with him what my email buddies and I talk about, as well as some of the questions I answer here. I've also shown him some of my answers. We share almost everything, but I do hate it when he stands over my shoulder. Everyone is entitled to a little privacy, even a husband or wife.

Answer 4

Because terror cells need to communicate to coordinate attacks & weapon transfers.
The approach to random acts of violence, like a psycho killer shooting up a McDonalds, versus the approach to orchestrated terrorist attacks like 9-11, are vastly different. A massive attack requires funding and much communication. This is what the FBI is looking for.

Answer 5

Anyone who has had a filling put in since 9/11 is now tagged and registered with a GPS and listening device under the patriot act ammendments. Makes the man's job easier so keep going to the dentist and get all your teeth pulled to avoid detection.