American Civil Rights Blog

The new FISA legislation, for those who haven’t read about it, approves immunity for the telecom industry involved in the illegal wire-tapping program the Bush administration started, as long as the telco gets a letter from the presidential administration saying the action was appropriate. This is a dangerous precedent to set. No administration has the right to tell anyone to commit an illegal action. Simply encouraging this crime should constitute conspiracy in my opinion. This bill was passed in the Senate. Senate Voting Roll Call.

This legislation, goes in the face of the very principle of the 4th Amendment, by increasing the government’s power to monitor potentially sensitive, private phone calls.

For those who say, “I’ve got nothing to hide, they can listen to my calls if they want!”, here is a paper, just for you written by: Daniel J. Solove
I’ve Got Nothing To Hide and other Misunderstandings of Privacy

Here is a great quote from the paper:

“Like I said, I have nothing to hide. The majority of the American people have nothing to hide. And those that have something to hide should be found out, and get what they have coming to them.”

A bit later Mr. Solove talks about some responses he got when posing the question online:

“• My response is ‘So do you have curtains?’ or ‘Can I see your credit card bills for the last year?

• So my response to the ‘If you have nothing to hide…’ argument is simply, ‘I don’t need to justify my position. You need to justify yours. Come back with a warrant.’

• I don’t have anything to hide. But I don’t have anything I feel like showing you, either.

• If you have nothing to hide, then you don’t have a life.

• Show me yours and I’ll show you mine.

• It’s not about having anything to hide, it’s about things not being anyone else’s business.”

Great quotes that I think really address the fundamental issue here. Another reader wrote: “Bottom line, Joe Stalin would have loved it. Why should anyone have to say more?”

If you still doubt the FISA legislation is a problem, I highly encourage you to read I’ve Got Nothing To Hide and other Misunderstandings of Privacy, which explains the value of privacy very well in my opinion.

Florida has two senators(like all states), both of whom voted in favor of this legislation. Congratulations Senators Nelson(D) & Martinez(R), you both sold us out. This isn’t the first time though is it? I will be digging deep into both of their voting records to shed some light on the more insane positions they have. In-fact this FISA vote is what inspired me to create a blog, that talks just about our fantastic(sarcasm) Florida Senators.

By the way, kudos to the fine people of Qwest Communications, who refused to break the law.

Related articles by Zemanta

• House OKs Warrantless Wiretapping Bill
• Warrantless Wiretapping Bill In Motion
• Senate Ending Surveillance Debate
• U.S. Senate bows to Bush, approves surveillance bill