http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/opinions/letters/4_4_JO20_LETTERS_S10920.htmGovernment's abuse
I read Dave Leja's Sept. 1 Letter to the Editor "Save Our Freedoms" and I have to admit Dave is quite passionate about the government intruding on our freedoms. On that point Dave and I are in total agreement.
The only problem I have with Dave's letter is where his priorities lie. He seems overly concerned with the government interfering with the cruelty committed upon defenseless geese or the enforcement of seat-belt laws, whereas I have a big hang-up with our government (President Bush really) illegally wiretapping our phones; sending American citizens away to jail for years without charges, representation or contact with family; falsifying and cherry picking intelligence to start a war; and willfully ignoring laws written by Congress and signed by the president himself.
As Dave said, "we allow ourselves to be led by the nose by our politicians" but it isn't the "radical left-wing activist groups" as Dave has charged, who are controlling those politicians. It is the radical executive branch, with support from radical republicans in congress, radical fundamentalists, radical media outlets and radical conservatives of every flavor who are leading us by the nose down the slippery slope of abusive governmental intrusion. It is also anyone who stands silently and idly by allowing the swift and unconscionable destruction of our constitution's laws.
Dave has a somewhat legitimate argument about our government's intrusive nature but the banning of foie gras and smoking in restaurants or the enforcement of seat-belt laws are quite meaningless when compared to the genuine governmental abuses and intrusions that have been thrust upon us by our current government.
Are we going to "sit idle as they take away one freedom after another" as Dave asked? We might as well if all we are going to do is concentrate on trivialities while ignoring the consequential constitutional threats to our freedoms.
Paul Winkelmann
Romeoville