It seems anytime that the issue of wiretapping comes up, a common reaction is one of indifference, with the phrase “But, I don’t have anything to hide” constantly being recycled.
This statement is completely irrelevant concerning this current hot-button issue because as American citizens, we have a right against such encroachments.
The issue should have every American up in arms: it is a violation of a sacred right.
Contrary to popular belief, American was not founded on Christian principles. It was founded on the fear of tyrannical governments.
Yes, the founding fathers were influenced by the Puritans, but the Bill of Rights was born out of the Enlightenment.
The forefathers established in the Bill of Rights those rights that they saw necessary to individual freedom.
The fourth amendment grants American citizens protection from unreasonable searches and seizures. We hear this constantly on Law and Order. The law requires that a warrant be obtained for such an investigation.
But wait! These are desperate times! It takes a lengthy process to get a warrant, right?
Under the Patriot Act, if a warrant is needed in a hurry, it can be issued in 24 hours.
Now, the argument changes a little bit. A war-time president is afforded slightly greater powers than his peace-time counterpart.
The question becomes, “How much power should the president have?” The founding fathers might wonder, “How much power can the president stand before he becomes a tyrant?”
The comparison is often made between infringements like these and George Orwell’s 1984. The book contains a very fatalistic image of life where liberty is absolutely dead.
While our situation isn’t nearly so bad as Orwell’s depiction, it is still important to bear in mind.
The present situation is best characterized with the old adage “give and inch and they’ll take a mile.” Americans should be thinking long and hard about the implications of giving this inch.
The point isn’t monitoring terrorist activity; the point is the infringement on the rights of American citizens and the president’s authority to mandate such measures.

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