Do the increased surveillance power and capability of the US Government present an ethical dilemma?why?
367634
The issue is not the ability to use it, it is the circumstance under which it is used.\n\nIf used without (potentially) public accountability it could be used unethically (Watergate anyone).\n\nIf used in a framework where there are set parameters then there is control but this is subject to the usual 'people = chaos' rules.  \n\nLike torture this is an issue easy to generalise about than establish a rule that can be applied in all circumstances.\n\n\nPeace out (btw this answer will self destruct in 10 seconds, 9  ,  8 ....)
221418
Not at all.\n\nThere are millions of people screaming, "Unfair! You are violating my rights!" Yet, how many people can actually say the have been a subject of the so-called "domesticy spying" program? How many people have actually had their phones tapped and conversations recorded?\n\nFor that matter, how many people have been the subject of a Patriot Act investigation? How many have had their library records looked at? How many have had their information spread across every intelligence agency in the nation?\n\nMy point is this: The only people who are being targeted are being targeted for a REASON. The government does not just indiscriminately say, "Let's listen in on John Q. Public's conversation for sh!ts and giggles today." Uncle Sam does not just pick phone numbers at random to listen to. There is a REASON they investigate who they do. And I, for one, WANT them investigated. If they are doing no wrong, the investigation will clear them. But if they ARE doing wrong, I sure as hell hope we are doing EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to stop them. The next attack could cost hundreds of thousands of American lives.\n\n"When NSA goes after the content of a communication under this authorization from the president, the NSA has already established its reasons for being interested in that specific communication. I've said in other places this isn't a drift net over Lackawanna or Freemont or Dearborn, grabbing all communications and then sifting them out."\n\n-- Gen. Michael Hayden (Deputy Director of National Intelligence)\n\nBottom line: If your phone hasn't been tapped, your rights have not been violated. If you are not engaging in any illegal activity, chances are 99.999% that you phone hasn't been tapped.
63970
You have a very good point and for all i know you could be the very person you are talking about. If i was the NSA i think i would be asking that very same question. They probably are reading this. But  I think we have the right to our own opinion and i dont think my opinion about the goverments going to change anytime soon. I would tell them too that they could be doing better things with there money, than spying on me or you.
661656
YES...\n In every aspect of your life!\nremote viewing was an excellent answer, but just the very tip of the overall picture.\n Think back a few years to such things as LSD and the Cold War...the government has a proven record of mind control against the rest of the world and at home...\n it may not be with ray guns or anything obvious, but just the fact that so many jump up and say "NO WAY" shows, it's already working.\n Everything we see influences us in some way ,and how "they" choose to use it against us should be the real conversation here.\n if your really interested in more documentation ,feel free to contact me anytime about the subject.\n www.killthegovernment.com
93746
I dont think well ever know exactly what our governemnt is doing, but with good watchdog organizations out there helping to keep an eye on them it is helping some. I wish there was a way to know more. There is too much secret shenanigans going on in our government that we dont know about untill the damage is done.
3176
I am not a Republican, but I play one on TV...:-) Seriously, I believe that they feel trading some freedom for more security is a wise policy.  I understand the need to feel safe, and I am generally in favor of measures that increase our security.  However, that does not extend to the Patriot Act, which I see as a slippery slope away from what America is supposed to be.
577860
Government has been spying since at least 1995 (Clinton's Echelon spied on all electronic -phone/e-mail- traffic).\n\nThe best thing is to keep a record for yourself.
1168864
Of course we don't have as much freedom as we did 30 yrs ago. There are cameras everywhere, we can't smoke, our children have to have social security numbers, paranoia runs rampant as any stranger is a potential child molestor or terrorist, we have restrictions on what can be brought into schools, federal buildings, etc, we have metal detectors, there are more rules and restrictions and fees in every aspect of our life, we have Homeland Security, and now our civil liberties are being taken away. In essence we have traded our freedoms to become safer but are we any safer than before? No. Our borders are not sealed, we can't eradicate terorism, or prevent crime, we can't legislate consciousness. I am amazed when people say 1984 passed and nothing happened. Perhaps we are not able to see what has happened to us objectively.
638339
It's kind of a false dilemma.  Security and freedom can coexist, it just makes it a little harder.  I personally would rather be able to read, write, think, or say whatever I want without sanction than feel secure under surveillance.
108446
I am sure that Foxnews.com or Bill O'Reileys web sites try to dispute those claims.  Although with illegal secret surveillance and the government saying one thing then doing another, the resemblance to the government in the book can't simply be be labled as without merit.\n\nHere is a factoid that is not about the US government, but might be interesting to you.  I beleive it was the early 90's...but the democratically elected government of West Germany had a covert program operating for a year or so to secretly obtain DNA samples from all West German citizens.  They would do this by following people around and taking swabs of cups used at cafe's and hair samples and other methods.  I don't think it lasted very long, but it was thought of, approved, funded, and operated for at least a while.
312239
Aboslutely not! Any nation willing to exchange privacy for security deserves and will have neither.That is a rough quote from one of our founding fathers.Franklin or Jefferson,I think.
157044
There's this little news story now,  it takes a large chunk of time on national news and print and tv,  remember its the thing about Bush authorizing the NSA to listen to cell phone calls.\n\nSo able danger ended with some admiral or general saying we were told not to pursue what we had cause some white house clinton lawyer told us not to go any farther,\nand now george bush's lawyer, the attorney general, is saying its legal for us to spy and take action\n\nkick @ss
224281
Threats real or imaginary, the US govt. has more or less always eavesdropped on ALL of its people, more so susceptible groups. Remember cold war? Each American's track record was maintained and what not. The same is happening now. The Echelon System records every radio transmission in the world. More than 85% of Internet switches and servers pass thru or are owned by US. As I type now, it is being recorded somewhere in some server. The Fed has openly admitted they record every damn conversation in the country and not just those in-coming or out-going. Your purchases, your subscriptions, your bank accounts, your contacts - real or virtual - just about anything worth recording, are being recorded. \n\nAnd you can't do anything about it. For good or bad?  For democracy or fascism?
30688
The current controversy really boils down to how much evidence & authorization agencies like the CIA need in order to justify spying on someone.\n\nHistorically (in recent decades, anyway), it has never been 'official' policy to authorize spying without probably cause (evidence & good reason to believe someone is engaged in illegal activity), and approval from a judge - this is all part of the USA's system of checks & balances on our government.\n\nCurrent laws & policy statements circumvent these balances of power, and could allow the 'secret' agencies of our law enforcement system to spy on innocent citizen without justification.\n\nThe most disturbing developments have been recent claims from the White House which imply that the current administration considers itself above the law - saying that it does not need to seek approval from the legislative & judicial branches to carry out such activities (even though our Constitution, laws, and legal precendence say that it does).
836112
I think it is a contradtiction.\n\nLike military intelligence\n\nor \n\nbusiness ethics.
1039069
Ethically, it's not okay for anyone to invade the privacy of an innocent person.  It's stupid and potentially dangerous to stalk celebrities, and many suits have been brought against various photographers and publications.  However, we have the right to know what the government is doing-- because it's with our money.  Governments steal from us, then use the fruits of their theft against us.\nAnyone arguing that the 4th Amendment protects our privacy from the government is living under a rock.  The 4th has been effectively nullified by SSNs, gun records, increasing search & seizure to look for a "probable cause", phone tapping, and the fact that the government is so vast and powerful that businesses are being forced to collude with bureaucrats and hand over what little privacy we had left.
272888
Our constitutional right to privacy was definitely negated in this situation. If the government suspects someone of having terroristic capabilities, I do not think it would be too hard for them to get a warrant to eavesdrop the legal way. Bush is just trying cover his butts, as well as other members of our government are doing likewise. There are many conspiracy theories floating around concerning Bush and a few other members of our government, I think it is time the people of this nation take our government back, too many "actors" in power with selfish intentions!