Kook
Posted on 03/14/2008 11:14:00 AM PDT by NoWayMcCain
It has been said that “he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.” And in the case of Eliot Spitzer this couldn’t be more true. In his case it’s the political sword, as his enemies rejoice in his downfall. Most people, it seems, believe he got exactly what he deserved.
The illegal tools of the state brought Spitzer down, but think of all the harm done by Spitzer in using the same tools against so many other innocent people. He practiced what could be termed “economic McCarthyism,” using illegitimate government power to build his political career on the ruined lives of others.
No matter how morally justified his comeuppance may be, his downfall demonstrates the worst of our society. The possibility of uncovering personal moral wrongdoing is never a justification for the government to spy on our every move and to participate in sting operations.
For government to entice a citizen to break a law with a sting operation – that is, engaging in activities that a private citizen is prohibited by law from doing -- is unconscionable and should clearly be illegal.
Though Spitzer used the same tools to destroy individuals charged with economic crimes that ended up being used against him, gloating over his downfall should not divert our attention from the fact that the government spying on American citizens is unworthy of a country claiming respect for liberty and the fourth amendment.
Two wrongs do not make a right. Two wrongs make it doubly wrong.
Sacrifice of our personal privacy has been ongoing for decades, but has rapidly accelerated since 9/11. Before 9/11 the unstated goal of collecting revenue was the real reason for the erosion of our financial privacy. When nineteen suicidal maniacs attacked us on 9/11, our country became convinced that further sacrifice of personal and financial privacy was required for our security.
The driving force behind this ongoing sacrifice of our privacy has been fear and the emotional effect of war rhetoric – war on drugs, war against terrorism, and the war against third world nations in the Middle East who are claimed to be the equivalent to Hitler and Nazi Germany.
But the real reason for all this surveillance is to build the power of the state. It arises from a virulent dislike of free people running their own lives and spending their own money. Statists always demand control of the people and their money.
Recently we’ve been told that this increase in the already intolerable invasion of our privacy was justified because the purpose was to apprehend terrorists. We were told that the massive amounts of information being collected on Americans would only be used to root out terrorists. But as we can see today, this monitoring of private activities can also be used for political reasons. We should always be concerned when the government accumulates information on innocent citizens.
Spitzer was brought down because he legally withdrew cash from a bank – not because he committed a crime. This should prompt us to reassess and hopefully reverse this trend of pervasive government intrusion in our private lives.
We need no more Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act!
No more Violent Radicalization & Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Acts!
No more torture!
No more Military Commissions Act!
No more secret prisons and extraordinary rendition!
No more abuse of habeas corpus!
No more PATRIOT Acts!
What we need is more government transparency and more privacy for the individual!
And if you've studied Shakespeare, you are laughing right now.
He grasps an essential truth, that the state spying on its own citizens with the intent to oppress and silence them is bad.
But he goes from correct premise to total lunacy in a very short leap. All of his “solutions” give aid, comfort and protection to the foreign enemies of our nation. These are enemies who would, if they could, stifle this idiot’s right to publicly express his idiocy!
Yes, liberalism is true dementia.
Reap what ye also sow.
Kook
We are at war with an enemy that is not only outside, and operating throughout the World, but within our Nation as well. An enemy intent upon Conquering us, killing us, or subjecting us to slavery.
Sacrifices were made in previous wars for the purpose of winning those wars against truly evil forces. Why should we now consider not making such sacrifices to win this war?
"Spitzer has discovered one of life’s axioms: If you steamroll powerful people you’ll eventually get steamrolled yourself. (i.e. Live by the sword, die by the sword.)"
P.S. Ron Paul is a goober.
That’s actually a quote from Jesus in the New Testament.
The quote “he who lives by the sword shall surely die by the sword” was from Jesus.
“He who does not have a sword, let him sell his cloak and buy one.” Jesus told them, and so it was done. But when Peter used one of the swords to cut the temple guards ear Jesus told him to stop fighting saying “he who lives by the sword shall surely die by the sword.”
I believe 1rudeboy is referring to a common, metaphorical usage of “sword” which is familiar to readers not only of Shakespeare but of much historic literature.
I agree that personal freedoms are being restricted more and more every day.
But when I think about that, I think in terms of government intrusion into the way I educate my kids, government intrusion into what I do with my property, government limitations of political speech, those kinds of things.
Spooks and law enforcement going after Taliban doesn’t upset me. Spooks and law enforcement going after a criminal enterprise doesn’t upset me, and if a high public official gets swept up in the investigation, that doesn’t upset me either.
Ron Paul proves yet again what a loon he is.
Aha. Reminds me of the commercial for spearmint gum, way back in the 60s: "Some call it a spear, some call it an arrow."
That's always the case with Paul. When he starts out a speech you begin thinking this may be the most tuned in, astute, honest politician I've ever heard. Within 5 minutes you realize he's slipped into kooksville and you feel sheepish for being suckered in by him in the first place.
Eliot The Sphincter:
Attorney at Law, father, husband, scourge of Wall Street!
HE IS WAS
THE SWORDSMAN!
LOL!
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