No, favoring some phone surveillance does not automatically translate to favoring full surveillance.
There's no evidence that random car searches, etc. stopped any terror attack. However, phone surveillance has. And if phone surveillance was stopped the terrorists would have free reign to chatter and form plans all they want in one of the easiest ways possible.
I'm not sure why people are so hyped up over this on the right. Did no one know that the Patriot Act was in place? Do people have horror stories of themselves, their neighbors or even distant acquantances being violated? What's changed other than one punk now harbored by communist China (who used to be an Obama supporter and is probably an OWS type) telling us that, yes, the Patriot Act is in effect?
“No, favoring some phone surveillance does not automatically translate to favoring full surveillance.”
If you are willing to trade your Constitutional Rights for safety, you must only want a small amount of this “safety”.
“There’s no evidence that random car searches, etc. stopped any terror attack. However, phone surveillance has.”
You need evidence to know that searching someone’s property, papers, home, vehicles etc. can find things? Random stops and searches will find all kinds of things - open liquor, drugs, illegal weapons, explosives, illegal aliens, and evidence of terrorism. The founders wrote the 4th exactly to prevent warrantless searches - which are abused by gov’t under the guise of keeping you safe. They knew what you do not.
“And if phone surveillance was stopped the terrorists would have free reign to chatter and form plans all they want in one of the easiest ways possible.”
That is why due process makes gov’t present evidence that indicates someone’s communications should be monitored. NON TERRORISTS should not be monitored without evidence, due process and specific places and items mentioned in a warrant.
“I’m not sure why people are so hyped up over this on the right.”
We respect the Constitution. We know it is necessary for freedom.
“Did no one know that the Patriot Act was in place? Do people have horror stories of themselves, their neighbors or even distant acquantances being violated?”
Yes and opposed it. Yes, abuse is happening every day. Are you reading the actual news?
“What’s changed other than one punk now harbored by communist China (who used to be an Obama supporter and is probably an OWS type) telling us that, yes, the Patriot Act is in effect?”
Snowden confirmed our worst fears from the inside. Supposedly Bush ordered monitoring of only international calls - those that had no expectation of privacy. Now the government is verging on totalitarianism by monitoring everything:
Your calls
your credit card purchases
Your movements
your internet usage
etc.
YOU the terrorist. YOU must be monitored 24/7. YOU cannot be trusted. YOU no longer have 4th amendment rights that are sacrosanct. I am not safer because YOU are monitored.