Rights & Privacy...You Can't Steal What Was Thrown Away
By Ron Marr (05/23/03)
It's not often you'll find me disagreeing with conservatives. For the most part I find the positions of the right to revolve around the admirable concepts of common sense, responsibility, accountability and the rights of individuals over the rights of the state.
However, in this case I'm going to make an exception. I figure it's ok, for in the process I also get to disagree with liberals.
Since shortly after September 11th I've heard both sides of the ideological fence parrot a buzz-phrase which rests upon a shaky foundation. The words in question are inevitably aimed at George Bush and John Ashcroft, with the saying being that of "I'm worried about the administration's theft of privacy and individual liberties."
Huh? You wanna' run that past me again? Can someone cite an example of just how their privacy or individual liberties were purloined? Did it happen to you personally? Are Storm-Troopers camping on your doorstep? Were you tossed in the Gulag for voicing your opinion? Have you been hauled off for questioning because of your political convictions?
As is true with most buzz-phrases, the vast majority of those who utter this line offer zero proof of its implementation. I'm curious... just how have your "privacy and individual liberties" been stolen?
Freedom of Speech? Sure, anti-war commencement speakers have been heckled and anti-Bush celebrities have lost money and popularity. But, that's not a government sponsored program of harassment. That's the private sector, the general public, disagreeing vehemently with comments with which they disapprove. You can say anything you like...but if the citizenry is offended don't whine about the "government" curtailing your right of free expression. Mass disagreement with the statements of a public figure is democracy in its purest form.
Freedom of Religion? To my knowledge not one single person has been forced, under penalty of law, to worship (or not) in a certain manner. I'll let you know when somebody makes me convert to Druidism at knife-point.
Freedom of The Press? The press is still free to print anything it wants whenever it wants, whether true or not. Ask The New York Times about that one.
The Right to Keep and Bear Arms? Granted, I would have squealed with glee had George W supported the repeal of the heinous assault weapons ban. It's a stupid and repressive law enacted by stupid and repressive Democratic Senators. On the other hand, I realize that left-leaning politicians and media conglomerates would have used Bush's support of a repeal as a political football, with the aim of installing a leftist President who favored full registration and confiscation of firearms. Bush knows you can't solve overnight that which was corrupted over many years. It just won't happen...in any aspect of life. Let him get re-elected and enact small changes over time. That's how the anti-gunners took away the rights...nibbling away piece by piece so folks wouldn't notice. Bush has adopted the same tactic in reverse. It will work. Be patient.
The main concern I hear about this alleged "theft" of privacy and liberty comes via the illusion of electronic "snooping." The conventional wisdom is that the government can now rifle through your personal business whenever they please. Get rea. We voluntarily allowed similar actions to be taken years ago. You are profiled and on numerous lists if you ever used a credit card, if you ever visited a web site, if you ever shopped via mail order (do you think they sent you all those catalogs because you lacked bathroom reading material) if you ever had a utility hook-up, if you ever held a job. These weren't government programs...they were part of the marketing concept of private enterprise. And, all of this information has always been available to the government should you be the subject of a criminal investigation. In terms of personal privacy there is absolutely nothing different now than five or 10 years ago.
The only danger I see in heightened security measures is their possible abuse by a future administration, one which operates with the goal of personal advancement and dictatorial ambition. You know...an administration like the last one. The way to eliminate that fear is to make sure we never again put a Democrat in the White House. Be vigilant, avoid apathy, and make sure to vote in EVERY election. Don't assume someone else will take care of you. They won't. So what if the Feds made you remove your shoes at the airport? Deal with it. We live in a time of war. While those who forget the past may not be condemned to repeat it, a lack of adequate Homeland Security could well cause them to re-live it.
Put bluntly, nothing has been stolen which you didn't already throw away.
(Printer friendly version) Email: Ron Marr
