how can the united states government fight terrorism without invading the privacy of individuals?
148622
Without invading the privacy of individuals or without Unduly invading the privacy of individuals?\n\nGovernment intrusion seriously chills one's enthusiasm about personal pursuits and encouraging individual pursuits is what makes democracies such fertile ground for invention and revolutionary ideas. \n\nBut law enforcement has a natural desire to know and control all aspects of life.\n\nSo the US came up with a brilliant solution.  Privacy may be invaded by law enforcement but only if they first prove to a judge that the person is probably up to something bad.  That's not a very high standard to meet but it means that at least there's a gatekeeper looking to balance private and state interests.\n\nNo state official has ever even offered to show that this intermediate step in any way makes the nation less safe.  And they certainly have not offered to show that any such decrease in safety outweighs the harm to democratic government that accompany routine violations of ersonal privacy.
747180
concidering how our govenment couldnt even prevent 9/11 from happening or FIND Bin Laden, trust me, the govenment isnt as capable as they WANT you to think they are. Theyd rather control thru fear and misinformation.
571256
The goverment has concealed things from the public since it's formation. Cover stories and diversion stories are created daily. With today's instant communications technology, it's not as easy. And it's not always with evil intent. For example, when the 911 incident occurred, the idea was that the least truthful information released to the public the better, so as not to create panic over possible future or more attacks that law enforcement had no advance knowledge of where it would occur, even though they told us it highly probable it would. The theory is tell the public the least information possible with plausible deniability. If that isn't possible, and real information for the safety of the public is available, release it according to its weight against negative panic and fear that it may cause. The least the better is rule of thumb in goverment.
170557
The Patriot Act helps law enforcement officers find and arrest terrorists more easily. It also helps in more common crimes too.\n\nUnfortunately, its liberal use of bugging is considered a violation of privacy, since it makes bugging people easy for law enforcement. On the other hand, though, the government should have no need to bug you unless you need bugging. And besides, they don't have the manpower to bug everyone.\n\nThe government can spy on people anyway, or bug them, so it makes little difference. Now it's just easier, faster, and safer for cops. Privacy is nice, but I prefer to be alive and have a tiny bit less privacy.\n\nTo the person below me: it is not at all a false sense of security, because the Patriot Act's greatest impact is on law enforcement, not crime prevention. Putting NYPD officer at every large building and subway station is false security. But making it easier for FBI agents to collect evidence to convict criminals is not false at all.
227457
national security doesn't just help individuals. people who value privacy more than the sanctity of human life should admit themselves to a f***in insane asylum. at least that way they wouldn't run the chance of withholding valuable information from the government that could help prevent loss of more American citizens, however disgusting some may be. like those self-centered a**holes concerned about their privacy. "oh, the government is trying to spy on us". Oh, grow a f***in spine! the only reason these people are complaining is because they have something to hide. to those people i say, hide your secrets up your a** like all the other drug smugglers or in your shoes like that one bomber sh**head!
224740
none that I know of. They probably are blinded by the fact that it is suppossed to fight terrorism. the opperative word being 'suppossed'. It's like their privacy is not important. My mother-in-law would follow G.W. into a tornado if he said it would fight terrorism. Oh well, I say. We all die anyway.
102672
Unless you are engaging in activity that could be construed as aiding and abetting terrorism, I think you are being overly paranoid.\n\nThe government is engaging in those activities, but it has more to do with data mining. The government has a program called Tempest that is capable of monitoring electronics within the nation, but it does not do so arbitarily. Tempest runs in the background. When certain key phrases come up (for instance, "I want to kill the President"), Tempest roars to life and signals agents that someone to watch out for has been identified.\n\nThe government does not just arbitrarily say, "I think I'm gonna listen in on Sam's conversation tonight and see what pops up." That is like finding a needle in a haystack.
398330
Well, I don't worry about it. What you said is true, about having nothing to hide. I really don't like the idea about my privacy being invavded, but look at it this way. They are not just going to listen in for no reason. If you are acting suspicious, such as calling different countries frequently, and you are not associated with any kind of place that should be calling different coutries, then you would probably be a suspect. Or say, you are a suspected terrorist. I have no problem with things like that. They won't listen unless they have a reason. And for that I am thankful, because they are trying to better protect me and my family.
532009
It is just a small part of a big problem. Since 9-11 the govt has been taking more and more of our freedoms from us,(the American People). We have the patriot act, warrentless spying on the American people, no more habeas corpus, it is called FACISM. Very scary.
112745
It is a law that allows the Feds to spy on Americans without a reason. They say it is to fight terrorism...but who believes that without any proof. Check this out...
545234
Probley,but the Gov.over rides everybody and everything.The FBI right now is eve droping on AT&T and BellSouth and other phone companys customers like you. Nothing is private or free in this country we all answer to somebody.It is another way for them to catch drug dealers and tearest. our social security number is out mark of the beast With it,the law knows what you done sence the day you were born.
159304
Nope that would certainly be an invasion of privacy...But give Bush a little more time..then everyone will be criminals.
250832
america's goverment should stay away from muslim world. leave them alone will be the best way to keep american safe.\nthe future hold for AMERICA'S IMAGE??? GUN&WAR
1176745
I think it is awful.  Surveillance should only be done on people where the government has just cause.  People deserve to have some degree of privacy unless they have committed an act that causes them to give up that right.
715944
it's not, \n\nIf the ACLU or some real constitutional lawers would step up to the plate and challange it, we could get somewhere.  \n\nand for the guy who said we don't have a right to privacy, how about you read the bill of rights.  \n\n"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."\n\nso "sneek and peek" wouldn't exactly be constitutional.
462682
As individuals we have rights. We have a right to privacy, and this include our DNA. Besides why would the government want to keep track of something so personal for everyone in the country. \n\nBesides, the government has a bad track record of cover ups and basically not playing above the board, how could they (the government)expect us (he people) to trust them with such sensitive information. As far AS I AM CONCERNED I BELIEVE THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING UNETHICAL WITH THE INFORMATION, LIKE CLONING TO BREED SOME SORT OF GOD KNOWS WHAT. THAT'S WHY THEY SHOULD NOT BE PRIVY TO EVERYTHING. ITS LIKE INVITING STRANGERS INTO YOUR BEDROOM, OR IN THIS CASE, YOUR BODY. ITS JUST NOT A GOOD IDEA!
577473
Get used to it! John Ashcroft and his clan at the old Clinton Bordello have come up with ..."THE PATRIOT ACT" .\n   We are  ALL gonna have to  (eventually)  have to roll over to the elected profiteers in Washington, DE SLEAZE. \n   Don't get a chip on  (or in) your shoulder, you're not being singled out by any means. The Government is out to take over everyones life and means of existence.