Bush's Imperial Presidency - By Jim Hightower

[kpete]

Bush's Imperial Presidency

By Jim Hightower, Hightower Lowdown. Posted April 26, 2006.

The Bush administration has pushed hard for limitless powers to spy on, imprison and torture American citizens in the name of 'security.' Is this really what America stands for?
http://www.alternet.org/images/managed/Story+Image_thumb_hightower_apr06image.jpg
Illustration by Matt Wuerker

A fellow from a town just outside of Austin wrote a four-sentence letter to the editor of our local daily that astonished me: "I want the government to please, please listen in on my phone calls. I have nothing to hide. It is also welcome to check my emails and give me a national identification card, which I will be proud to show when asked by people in authority. What's with all you people who need so much privacy?"

Well, gee where to start? How about with the founders? Many of the colonists who rose in support of the rebellion of '76 did so because their government kept snooping on them and invading their privacy. Especially offensive was the widespread use of "writs of assistance," which were sweeping warrants authorizing government agents to enter and search people's homes and businesses -- including those of people who had nothing to hide. The founders had a strong sense of the old English maxim "A man's house is his castle." They hated the government's "knock at the door," the forced intrusion into their private spheres, the arrogant abrogation of their personal liberty. So they fought a war to stop it. Once free of that government, they created a new one based on laws to protect liberty -- and this time they were determined to put a short, tight leash on government's inherently abusive search powers.

Hence, the Fourth Amendment: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

much more at:
http://www.alternet.org/story/35040/

[niyad]

1. it is appalling, but not surprising, that the kool-ade drinkers actually

believe the dreck that LTTE spewed out. living proof that an intelligence test (administered by ME) would be necessary before one could exercise the franchise)

[kenny blankenship]

2. Indeed, the 4th Amendment is one of those Bill of Rights provisions

that was necessary during the ratification process for many people and states to give their assent to the proposed new Constitution. Its erosion into an empty letter is a sign that the Republic is dissolved.

[Dr. Death]

3. A great article; Hightower nails it

The most worrisome part about the whole thing is how readily members of Congress have been to go along with these abuses to the Constitution. Every Congressperson who does so, regardless of party, should be, at the least, removed from office.