[spatso]

My instant reaction is to rebel against anyone prying into my privacy. It is intuitively supposed by me as a freedom issue. On the other hand, I recognize national security requires a comprehensive monitoring of the landscape. I am most distressed that conservatives are now placed in the awkward position of having to argue for government intervention into matters of information privacy.

[SUSSA]

On the other hand, I recognize national security requires a comprehensive monitoring of the landscape.

Agreed. But all monitoring needs a very high degree of oversight. To many forget Filegate.

[EEDUDE]

"My instant reaction is to rebel against anyone prying into my privacy."

You're a day late and a dollar short my friend. Information has been collected on you since the first mainframe computer was built.

Ever seen what I prospective employer or an insurance company can find out about you?

If having the NUMBERS and TIMES of your phone calls recorded bothers you, you'd be in an outright PANIC over what is already recorded and accessible by anyone with the desire and money to purchase it.

PS...It's NOT the Government that's collecting all this data.

[two23]

I am most distressed that conservatives are now placed in the awkward position of having to argue for government intervention into matters of information privacy.

Me too and this keeps going through my mind:

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

But on the other hand, in todays electronic world, we didn't really "give up" any liberties...we acquiesced to subtle intrusion while being dazzled by technology.

[ContemptofCourt]

I find it odd that I felt much more comfortable when the dems were in charge, and the conservatives were the ones screaming about big government and government intrusion in our lives.

I wonder where post-9/11 conservatives now draw the line.