Government Surveillance
Susana Schwartz
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Opinion
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It's 2009, and we have a new administration, but little has been done thus far to carry out promises to put checks and balances on growing amounts of private surveillance of citizens by the government. Thomas Jefferson implored citizens to "watch" their government with the same fervor as that with which the government "watches" them--especially when the "watching" takes place under the guise of "freedom" or "national security." How much "freedom" are we willing to give up in the name of "freedom?"
Jefferson always spoke of questioning any government that appeared to practice "tyranny or usurpation of power."
As the lines blur between corporate and government databases, it seems that tyranny is something to be wary of. It is our "duty" as Americans to question the current Patriot and FISA Amendments Acts!
As a reporter, I found it horrifying that there wasn't much media coverage of the previous administration's attempts to indict reporters for uncovering wiretapping abuses by the executive branch of government. The government raided reporters' homes and confiscated their computers along with those of their children. The reporters, James Risen and Eric Lichtblau, went on to win Pulitzer Prizes for their reporting on the Bush administration's illegal eavesdropping on American phone calls.
Despite the revelations in that coverage, Congress reluctantly extended provisions of the illegal wiretapping until they could study the issue in more detail. And so, Republicans and Democrats (Obama included) did the unthinkable and acquiesced to do nothing until a later time.
Well, that "time" is here! The time has come to repeal immunity guarantees to phone companies, ISPs, social networks and other corporations who obviously should not be trusted to police themselves for reasons of "conflict of interest." No corporation should be allowed to divulge information about our buying, viewing, or personal habits and preferences. In today's digital, Web 2.0 era, it's not difficult to justify a warrant and to expeditiously procure one when there is reason to do so.
We should not have to "opt out" of corporate invasions of our privacy, nor should we have to "opt out" of invasive government programs like FISA or NAIS or any other slew of government programs now being proposed in the name of "national security." The fear-mongering is shameful, the abuses of power preposterous.
It doesn't take too far a stretch of the imagination to see how an administration (past or future) could abuse its executive powers to arrest, harass, imprison or slander those in opposition to policies that cater to special interests--special interests which in today's political world have far too much power over governmental decisions.
Please write your politicians and call for a repeal of FISA and other egregiously unconstitutional programs. It is your right and your duty as a "patriot" to protect your rights over those of your government! Do not give up your "freedom" in the name of "freedom."
It sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous.