Did you know that your idea of privacy is WRONG?

Question

the government thinks Americans need to change their ideas and expectations of privacy. do you?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,310536,00.html

personally, i think the government needs to reacquaint itself with the Bill of Rights.

*sigh* for ruth -
who would make me spell it out for her. protections against warrantless search and seizure, ensures that search and seizure be "reasonable", not blanket.
200 years of judicial review has repeatedly underscored the necessity of the government to have an existing "reasonable" need to acquire an individual’s private or business information. you will notice at the end of this article how pretty much all the email and phone conversation on AT&T's network. how is this a reasonable search of private information?

read bob's answer ruth. "personal papers and effects". thats the phrase i had forgotten.

yes ruth we all KNOW that these communications aren't private. the question is, from a strictly constitutionalist perspective they SHOULD be.

Answer 1

In particular the government should reaquaint itself with the Fourth Amendment:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Papers and effects referred to a person's personal letters and financial transactions. Technology may have changed how communications and records are kept, but any reasonable intepretation would treat e-mail the same as personal letters, credit card records the same as a person's personal letters and effects, etc.

That protection is against government intrusion as well as public disclosure, so the government safeguarding personal information it obtains without a warrant really doesn't meet the intent.

Answer 2

It's other more personal invasions of privacy that I find really disturbing and these are done on the state and local level.

Did you know that when you buy a house, the government puts your address on the internet telling every criminal you are open to theft, id theft, etc??? Giving directions to every criminal that wants to steal from you or hurt you.
No wonder AZ ranks #1 in identity theft.
Did you also know that your property rights are at risk and that many communities have been using emminent domain in an illegal way???

By the way these things are being done in all types of communities not just liberal or just republican.

These are the things that should have you really concerned, I don't think the government cares if I am talking about what groceries I need for dinner on the phone.

People need to protect their rights.

You are correct that wiretapping has been going on. Members of my family have been wiretapped to the extreme.
My sister deals with international corporations and it got so bad for a while there about 6 years ago that she used to announce to them when she heard the tap come in ..." And now for our friends and the agencies that are joinging us now, we were discussing ..."
It was pretty funny.
And she is a very patriotic conservative Republican by the way, she just deals with international matters.

Answer 3

The government has been listening for a lot longer than most people think. Wiretapping is not necessary when the communication is wireless. This is a radio freequency that is easily intercepted and, because it is technically a braodcast, it is not protected. The system of wiretapping has been used by many law ebforcement agencies for many reasons. Any information garnered from an illegal tap is inadmissable in court, but even this could require multiple court rulings in an espionage case. The government doesn't grant us any rights. We have to make our own rights.

Answer 4

My idea of privacey is spelled out in the Constitution of the United States. And "the government"--or, more corectly, a few unAmerican bureaucrats and politician--do not have the authority to change it.

Donald Kerr should be fired. Further, since he has clearly stated his desire and intent to subvert the Constitution, he should be investigated to see what other disloyal activities he may be involved in.

Answer 5

This outright stripping of Americans' constitutional rights by this administration confirms my belief that they are taking pages from Hitler's playbook.

We MUST get Ron Paul or Mike Gravel elected if we want The United States of America to survive.

Otherwise I firmly believe another revolution is the only answer.

Answer 6

"...so long as one end of the conversation was reasonably believed to be located outside the U.S."

Hmmmm. We all know that the gov't knows exactly what it's doing at all times. So they 'accidentally' eavesdrop on your conversation with Joe Schmoe, think that your a terrorist, and throw you in jail without telling your family where you are. Say hello to Big Brother. It's happening, people!!

Answer 7

Wow. If this is not a precursor to an Orwellian nightmare, then I do not know what is.

If the gov't starts changing the definition of what is considered a "suspected terrorist" or "enemy collaborator," then it would be used as justification to infringe on civil liberties even further.

This could set a dangerous precedent.

Answer 8

I kinda figured they'd tell me I was doing something wrong again sooner or later. Good thing the coming depression will point out all the things the government should have been doing for our economy instead.

Answer 9

Fourth Amendment- No unlawfull searches or seizures

Nineth Amenment- Citizens have more rights than given in the constitution.

Answer 10

I'm going to answer your question this way.

To RUTH--the "so" called lawyer above me. Hey girl, can I listen to all your phone calls?

While we're at it, can I look at your emails?