From a politcal perspective, what are your feelings about the ACLU?

Question

Do you feel as if they infringe on your rights or protect them? Please answer respectfully. Thank you! I will post my answer later.

I think that the ACLU is a wonderful organization that has given themselves a bad rap. Their most high profile cases are ones that tend to hit the media the hardest--usually involoving a violation of the Constitution that is offensive to one group or the other. I think that their more important cases that would show the "good" they do never make the media. I respect them because they do stick up for people's rights. I have a hard time understanding their organization because I think that they are sometimes using the cases they take as a way to promote their beliefs and the cases they take are sometimes a little too left of center for me. Overall, I think that the ACLU, like the unions, have done good for all in the past, but lately are becoming too extreme.

Answer 1

The ACLU is simply the best known of a number of advocy groups that attempt to bring possible violations of civil liberties and civil rights to the courts for resolution.

As such, they often take on clients who are unpopular--and, deservedly so in many cases. The point, however, is not to make moral judgements, but to help ensure that the Constitutional guarantees are enforced and adhered to by the government.

The neoconservatives like to rail against the ACLU for their "liiberalism." Yet look at the record. The ACLU took on issues like the famous Miranda case--but they also defended the right of the KKK to have a demonstration parade. They challenge warrentless wiretaps--but they are also representing Senator Craig in his legal battle in Minniapolis.

Quite aside of thehypocrisy of a political faction that derides the ACLU except when they find them useful for THEIR interests, this betrays a fundamental misunderstanding--or contempt--for our social ,cultural, and legal institutions. The ACLU does not violate anyone's rights--they are advocates before the curts, bring cases so that conflicts can be resolved.

As such, they are acting in the greatest tradition and in exactly the way or forefathers hoped citizens would--AS CITEZENS willing to act as watchdogs and to confront the government when and as it seems necessary. They--and other organizations like them--are at least as important to defending our freedom and way of life as the military and the police--perhaps more so: they confront not the obvious dangers but the subtle threats that can slip in and erode liberty.

Answer 2

The ACLU wish to protect our constitutional rights. They really do not choose side, they will defend the right or the left. Right now they are defending Sen Larry Craig because the case is flimsy. They have defended the Neo-Nazis and their right to march as well as the rights of folks on the left. I may not agree with all they do but I respect their motive, keeping the Constitution alive and working for everyone.

Answer 3

First off I think they are a racist organization - with a very strong left agenda. This is an organization of people, NOT VOTED IN BY THE PEOPLE, who use our money to push their own agenda, which is usually an anti-american one, and we are funding it. I really think everyone one of them should be held on treason charges and sent away for the rest of their lives, they are a threat to our safety of this country and its people. You want to go stand up for terrorist "rights" - you don't hear them defending any of the marines who are accused of committing crimes in the middle east, but they will bend over back wards when a mass murderer is not getting enough prayer time at Gitmo.... I hope they all die slow deaths

Answer 4

Many people feel the same about lawyers as they do about the ACLU. And, those who defend them say that they are both valuable to all American citizens when they need their services. To me, they are checks and balances for the Supreme Court, which is supposed to be guardian of the Constitution. The ACLU is the "watchdog" that has protected many from decisions that favor the "big" guy, over the "little" guy. As one of the "little guys", I support them one hundred percent.

Answer 5

I think that the ACLU needs to be more selective about their choice of doctrine that they wish to support.

If they were limiting their litigous goals to only those rights known as the procedural due process rights, then I'd like that group a lot more. By procedural due process, I mean the procedural guarantees of persons who are accused of crimes.

But I disagree with the ACLU when it litigates to force some kind of slice of swiss cheese "between church and state," and when they litigate to guarantee that god-awful concept of "the right to privacy." They also have a big problem with trying to turn the Equal Protection Clause into yet another grab-bag of intended rules.

Answer 6

They take cases that involve the bill of rights and side with parties that invoke those rights. Those parties are not always popular. Some are on the far right, or far left fringe, but most tend to be a little left of center. For this reason the Neo-cons love to bash the ACLU.

Answer 7

They protect constitutional rights, if they look like they have a left wing agenda then that says a lot about the right wing.

Answer 8

I feel that they go to great and often frivolous lengths to protect rights. Unlike most conservatives, I don't hate the ACLU. I just feel that they are a little looney at times based on the cases they'll take up and the stances they take. I liken them to some overly tenacious civil rights legal gurus with a lot of free time.

Answer 9

Politically, I think the ACLU is hostile toward the status quo, and seeks to change our society through court judgments. In general, they subvert the democracy with this process.

Typically, they prey on schools, that have no money for fights in court, and schools have to cave in to ACLU demands. Of course, this also subverts the local government that is in place (the elected school board).

Answer 10

It become to extreme and protects even the most undesirable of habits and law breaking. There must be some limit...