Should Extremist Groups and Organizations ( i.e. Cults) be Closely Monitored ; or does this impede freedom???

Question

These may include such groups as Scientology, Religious Extremist 's, Satanist's, etc : Should Government 'spy' on such groups , or would it be another Waco in the making. Especially keep tabs on websites such as Y! Answers, because they may instill and promote recruitment of their ideologies and philosophies and create 'cell' groups that increase in size and members. Is this violating rights??

Answer 1

yes, and they have already caught quite a few already that are sponsoring terrorists.
Its a have to situation for the safety of our country and families.

thanks for bringing this question up. I think it is a very important one and some of those that have answered in a very positive way...

Answer 2

Yes, and Yes.
Im afraid that any extreme can be dangerous. That includes religions. And it includes freedom of religion. You cant just say "they are a religion so we arent going to pay any attention to what they are doing".

I know we are supposed to answer and not chat accorning to the rules there but Im not much sure of your examples. Are those dangerous or just generally accepted as cults? Neutral sites such as ReligiousTolerance.org list some dangerous cults but they are all end-of-the-world stuff or we-all-commit-suicide stuff. For that matter, I dont want to pick on anyone but arent the mainstream religions getting more news lately for doing things like covering up pedophiles or running huge money scams?

A more democratic and fair statement might be "Dont ALL religions deserve some watching".

Answer 3

everything is subject to interpretation. even the answers we give here. Extremist groups that have a pattern of violence, reports that can be documented supporting hate, or some other ethnic discrimination or like oppression should likely be watched. A groups freedom is only allowed and given sufficient berth til it violates the rights of other individuals. Remember, One persons individual freedom shall not infringe upon another persons freedom. Does there need to be a check and balance to the overall monitoring system, yes, much as we have various checks and balances within government itself.

Answer 4

Extremism is in the eyes of the beholder.
Thanks to laws passed after 9/11 to try to protect the nation from future attacks, it is now the job of various police and intelligence community organizations to spy on various groups ... this can be politically motivated ... depending on whether democrats or republicans in charge in DC and state capitals, there will be different lists of groups considered dangerous that ought to be watched

As technology improves, and oversight diminishes, we may bet to the point where ALL groups are spied upon.

Answer 5

That is a violation of the first amendment. I can say "I wish blacks would die" all I want, as long as I am not going out and causing any damage or violence, then I am perfectly within my rights. If we start doing that, then we get into the realm of the government spying on any organization that doesnt agree with them. People have the right to disapprove of whoever they please, even the KKK is allowed to meet and march, as long as it is done so peacefully.

Spying on them would go against everything this country stands for, plain and simple. Anyone who says "support our troops because they are promoting freedom" and then says its OK to spy on groups they dont agree with is a hypocrite.

Answer 6

If you want to turn the U.S. into a police state yes. Just kiss good buy to your own freedoms.

Answer 7

Cults should only be spied upon if they are preaching violence against nonbelievers or other violations of the law.

Answer 8

If they have warrents against them showing of suspicious activities then yes.

Answer 9

They can do whatever they want, as long as they don't break any law.