Privacy vs. Security

Societies have become super-connected; technology has destroyed barriers of distance. Isolation has become a rarity in our modern nation. Satellites, telephones, cellular phones, internet, televisions, and radios have dwindled disparities between local communities, tying us together through a common knowledge shared by a national community. The government encompasses our lives, from the water we drink, to the building codes architects must abide by. It regulates our markets and dispenses nutritional advice. It wages wars in foreign countries to prevent future wars from happening. It oversees the production of national assets -- roads and sewage systems. It maintains a public system of education open to all. It protects us. We have laws, guidelines in all sectors of our society one must follow so that peace and order may flourish. Law enforcement officials protect these laws. The justice system punishes any breaches. A revolutionary idea that makes America free and just is "innocent until proven guilty." The American Constitution's Fourth Amendment protects its citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by authorities. The USA Patriot Act was signed into law in 2001. It bypasses the Fourth Amendment in many instances and has drastically lowered steps authorities have to follow in order to look through records and personal property. In an ambitious effort to curb foreign and domestic terrorism, lawmakers have given the proper authorities the right to do almost whatever it takes to locate and prosecute "terrorists." In the process, they have eradicated privacy and created a police nation. President Obama signed a four-year extension on this bill earlier this year.

A common argument for this bill's existence is that an individual has nothing to fear if there is nothing to hide. It will not affect an innocent person. Actually, it will protect this person.

Now, think of foreign wars; how, since Communism became a "major" threat to democracy, the USA has become involved in these wars. Think of Iraq. Ask how many soldiers have actually encountered certified terrorists. The concept between these wars and the USA Patriot Act are the same -- prevention.

The counter argument still holds -- prevention means protection, and the innocent still have nothing to fear.

Now, think of the recent immigration laws being passed. Alabama's law enforcers are allowed to arbitrarily pull over individuals and ask for identification.

The probable cause leading to the questioning of an individual is no longer anything that person has physically done. Whim has taken the place of probable cause. And racial profiling. And ulterior motives (reports have shown that the USA Patriot Act is rarely used for the detection of terrorist activity).

Americans have become guilty until proven innocent.

The counter argument still holds -- the innocent will be proven innocent.

So, what's so wrong with this new direction our national government has taken?