We in America feel violated by our government's abuse of our previously respected constitutional rights to privacy. While there is a legitimate complaint there, the nature of the situation presents a dilemma. Do you tell the people on whom you want to spy they are being spied upon? I presume that is the reason we used to have a judicial system we could trust, which was contacted for the 'special permissions' to keep our citizenry safe from those who do not play by the rules. Many voices are being raised in many areas, though the media, which collectively seems hesitant to report truth and reality rather than opinion, and follow the general bias of the owners dictates, if not the pundits own. Already, the media and politicians, for the most part, are too anxious to keep their jobs than do them properly.
The book 1984 made it clear how privacy lost, to an extreme, causes paranoia in the people who are the target of the government's disregard for personal privacy. There are enough people alive who remember when the book came out, when the threat of nuclear bombing of the US by Russia was a fear. Some schools still use this book as required reading. Others in the world have banned it. It seems we are heading the dystopian way, not only in the US, but elsewhere, as well. The term dystopia (the opposite of utopia) should raise some chills in all of us. If we trusted our governmental leaders, it would not. It is said that anyone who has nothing to hide should not worry about surveillance. However, recalling the days in Russia when dissidents were sent to mental hospitals and drugged or lobotomized to keep them quiet, when we hear that Karl Rove has been able to railroad a Southern governor to jail by virtue of his power condoned by our inept President, all of us should be frightened. Innocence no longer represents safety, unfortunately, in our judicial system today.
So far, being against the current Administration, has not caused any overt, dire consequences that are visible to average people. However, it harkens back to Senator McCarthy's paranoia about Communism and Communists, which should be frightening to all Americans because a strong voice can cause such damage before people get wise to the pathology level reached about the supposed danger. Many individual lives and careers can be ruined. We currently hear hints of this sort of thing today such as the 60 Minutes episode about former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman. There are many more instances that have appeared in the news but are quickly obfuscated by trivial news of pop stars and athletes.
There should be tests before people are voted into office about their biases and ability to be objective, about their intelligence and powers of logic and deductive reasoning, and about their mental health in general. These should be administered by competent psychological professionals and not left to the 'wisdom' of voters not educated to weigh out these factors.
Should our constitutional rights to privacy matter....yes indeed! We should guard them diligently, especially by our vote for those who represent us in Washington.
The book 1984 made it clear how privacy lost, to an extreme, causes paranoia in the people who are the target of the government's disregard for personal privacy. There are enough people alive who remember when the book came out, when the threat of nuclear bombing of the US by Russia was a fear. Some schools still use this book as required reading. Others in the world have banned it. It seems we are heading the dystopian way, not only in the US, but elsewhere, as well. The term dystopia (the opposite of utopia) should raise some chills in all of us. If we trusted our governmental leaders, it would not. It is said that anyone who has nothing to hide should not worry about surveillance. However, recalling the days in Russia when dissidents were sent to mental hospitals and drugged or lobotomized to keep them quiet, when we hear that Karl Rove has been able to railroad a Southern governor to jail by virtue of his power condoned by our inept President, all of us should be frightened. Innocence no longer represents safety, unfortunately, in our judicial system today.
So far, being against the current Administration, has not caused any overt, dire consequences that are visible to average people. However, it harkens back to Senator McCarthy's paranoia about Communism and Communists, which should be frightening to all Americans because a strong voice can cause such damage before people get wise to the pathology level reached about the supposed danger. Many individual lives and careers can be ruined. We currently hear hints of this sort of thing today such as the 60 Minutes episode about former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman. There are many more instances that have appeared in the news but are quickly obfuscated by trivial news of pop stars and athletes.
There should be tests before people are voted into office about their biases and ability to be objective, about their intelligence and powers of logic and deductive reasoning, and about their mental health in general. These should be administered by competent psychological professionals and not left to the 'wisdom' of voters not educated to weigh out these factors.
Should our constitutional rights to privacy matter....yes indeed! We should guard them diligently, especially by our vote for those who represent us in Washington.
2 comments:
well,well,well,if it were not for the current adm.we would be in a H--l of a fix e.r. clinton adm.and if the PATLAW was in placewe could have seen 9-11 comeing,and Psychiogiea pros Hail MARY!I'm still here RUSHLOVER
Dear anonymous Rush Lover, I guess if you throw out all the ways of making a good decision and using Rush as a guide, you might as well run your life with a Ouija Board or the Daily Horoscope. If it works for you, go for it. Rush will laugh at you all the way to his bank.
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