NSA’s excuse for snooping on innocent citizens — namely, that it can prevent serious harm to us, might even save lives — is spurious. If you incarcerated us all, that, too, might do all that.
Free men and women are, of course, capable of violence, even murder, but unless it is proven that they are embarking on these, unless the burden of proof is fully met, they must be left free. The job of protecting the citizenry must be carried out without violating their rights. That is the spirit behind constitutional government, especially the American Bill of Rights.
If and when one signs up to work in the security professions, one must adhere to strict standards and do one's job without violating them. One must cope with the limits and not run rampant unrestrained. (It is a bit like medical research and experimentation–it is all very important but doesn’t justify ignoring the basic rights of patients or subjects!)
That our government officials fail to grasp all this is truly a disaster. When they refuse to act within the limits posed by our individual rights, they are a far greater danger than terrorism! Indeed, they become like terrorists, making use of arbitrary means to reach their goals! Nothing excuses it!
The oath of office of all security professionals includes a commitment to act without doing violence of the rights of the citizenry, including to their right to privacy and due process.
June 13, 2013
We are delighted to present Lessons in Freedom, essays by Dr. Tibor Machan, for your pleasure.
Dr. Machan holds the R. C. Hoiles Chair in Business Ethics & Free Enterprise at Chapman University's Argyros School of B&E.
Let us not forget that the President also take an Oath of Office by swearing to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.. If this be the case there must be a new definition of the meaning of treason as specific rights as set firth in the Bill of Rights are being debased daily not only by the President but the judicial system as well.. Truth has become an abstract and meaningless value as the American people are lied to on a daily basis.. We are told what is the truth, but the truth keeps changing daily..
Today there is a thin line between being a Patriot and a Traitor.. Yet, when the national press and electronic media fail to report or disclose the truth about deliberate violations of the people’s constitutional rights, courageous individuals will come forth with the truth.. The government calls them whistle blowers which has a somewhat negative connotation, but such people of truth are patriots sacrificing themselves, their careers and reputations for the good of their nation.. It is happening right now and will happen again as the TRUTH will eventually prevail.. VERITAS