J. Edgar Hoover: Alive and well?

"Big Brothers Are Watching"



Edward Snowden revealed what most already suspected...The National Security Agency has been collecting billions of records (phone, internet, etc.) on American citizens regardless of suspected terrorist activity.  POTUS Obama (much like GWB and others before him), leading members of Congress, and the intelligence community insist that such tactics are crucial to our nation’s antiterrorism efforts.  Interestingly, recent polls have found that a majority of Americans are supportive of this type of surveillance activity because of its ability to thwart terrorist attacks.       

      

"Enemy Combatant?"

The issue is not whether the government should fight terrorism...they should! 

The issues are...

1. Where is the balance between national security, democratic freedoms, and individual rights?
2.  Is the NSA surveillance program constitutional based on protections in the First (free speech and association) and Fourth (protection against indiscriminate searches) Amendments?
3. Do I really want Big Brother to monitor my religious beliefs, medical issues, sexual orientation, how I spend my money, when I drive to a football game, or know that I really like Dr. Pepper?
4. Are American citizens entitled to know about government surveillance techniques, how the records are stored, how long records are held, who has access to the data?
5. What safeguards are in place to prevent abuse?
6. Is this really about terrorism or power?

"Justice is incidental to Law and Order."



The government’s ability to gather information on its citizens has grown since the days when J. Edgar Hoover abused his power to collect files on political and civil rights leaders to strengthen his own power and reinforce his vision for America.  So, even if we trust our Big Brothers with our information today...can we trust him tomorrow?