How Much Invasion of Privacy is Too Much?

[LibDemAlways]

If you travel by air in the US, the government has the right to open your suitcase in secret and inspect its contents - even if those contents have been pre-determined by an x-ray and explosives testing to be innocuous. Americans have pretty much accepted this breach of their privacy in the name of "security." Now that this is the accepted norm, where will it end? Will the government next mandate that we leave our homes unlocked so that government representatives can enter at will and inspect our belongings? Will we be required to affix devices to our cars or persons so that the government can moniter our whereabouts at all times? How much more of our freedom and privacy are we willing to part with before we declare "enough's enough"? Are we already too far gone? Thoughts?

[SHRED]

1. All this privacy invasion...

will not stop one dirty bomb or chemical plant explosion.

When people realize that terrorism arouse from the western world's absolute FUCKING with the Arab world, for the last 80 years, then and only then will prevention of terrorist acts start to occur through changed behavior by the super power(s) via pressure from their respective citizenry.

[sweetheart]

2. The new rectal probe

I hear the new models are outstanding once the itching sensation
behind the ears subsides. THe probe has cameras and records every
second of video footage observed by the eyes, samples all sexual fluids
from the organs and tracks all chemicals eaten and smoked. It then
produces a USB-II download file to the police every 24 hours to make
sure that you are following the state religion.

THe new inquisition centers are being set up for all those who fail
the tests. Then the rectal probe will be violently replaced by a large
cattle prod and the victem tortured until they accept a HUGE rectal
probe for life forever, that kills them with the pain of the expansion
of the rectum and rear cavities.

[Trillo]

3. I think the intrusion into "our lives" began long before I was born.

Yes, our government has already gone too far.

Now corporate makes money off of our "data."

I really believe the corporate entity needs dismantling.

[Indy Lurker]

4. don't look now...

but if you have a car that's less than 2 years old, it probably has a data recorder, like airplains. It records hard acc. hard breaking, air bag deployment, etc.

And if you have "On Star" you should know that judges have issued wire taps allowing police to listen in on a car (owned by a suspected mob boss) anytime they want.

And of course, Electric bills are checked for unusual usage, which may indicate "indoor farming"

Oh, and Thermal Imaging, has been declared not to violate privacy.

[wli]

6. electric bills and thermal imaging, hmm

I guess if they search here, all they'll find is a bunch of oversized computers.

[Lars39]

5. Doesn't matter if you lock your door or not.

In less time than you spend getting to the store and back, your house could be searched, "legally".

[LibDemAlways]

7. I know. It's scary. But I'm thinking

it would be easier for the government to enter if the doors were ordered unlocked like suitcases at the airport. I can see that day coming. And burglars would certainly be all for it. Burglar alarm companies might be pissed, though.

[JDPriestly]

8. I think this security obsession

is the government's response to its friends in the security technology industry who are selling all these very expensive gadgets and toys. These gadgets are very expensive. They are costing us the sense of freedom we once had. How many terrorists have actually been identified or apprehended thanks to all this technology? And what next? Iris IDs. Think how much that will cost. This security equipment is just another excuse for Bush's corporate friends to dip their fingers into our tax money. And what for? It's only a matter of time until terrorists figure how to circumvent the latest technology.

Remember the Maginot line? The French built a series of bunkers along their border with Germany after WWI in order to prevent another German invasion of the contested Alsace Lorraine territory. It was the latest technology for the times and built at great cost. It turned out to be a total waste. Hitler circumvented the Maginot Line by invading France from the north. The Maginot Line gave the French a false sense of security for a little while, but the whole concept was soon obsolete. Technology cannot protect us against suicide bombers.

By the way, I also disagree with those who think that we can prevent suicide bombings and terrorism by changing our policies. It's not that simple. It won't work. The people who commit these acts are fanatics, yes, but they are also criminals, short and simple. I don't care how middle class they are. Some criminals are middle class. I don't care what ideology or religion they profess. Killing is a crime in every culture. They are killers. They are criminals. They are violating universal standards for human behavior. Changing our foreign policy isn't going to make violent criminals into law abiding citizens. And if the terrorists are simply fanatics, they will believe what they believe and changing our policies won't prevent terrorism. We should establish good policies because it is right to do so not because it will change other people's minds or behavior.