This is what is wrong with this country: Lovers of socialism, communism, and terrorism, place fear in the hearts of the innocent - fear of unjust surveillance, in order to PROTECT the guilty.
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My dad is no lover of socialism, etc, he was a Goldwater Republican. My mom (artsy type) went to the trial of the Catonsville 9 in 1968 (I think it was 1968). My dad's business was then audited by our friends in the IRS for 6 consecutive years after that. Related, I don't know. What do you think? Especially given that they found zilch.
I think that was deplorable, of course. The IRS should not be used for intimidation.
If you were to boil down my various statements about surveillance, what was left would be the belief that we should not fear surveillance, yet we do because of CORRUPTION within our Government - The kind of corruption your dad was the unfortunate victim of.
Yet, we cannot ignore real threats due to fear of misuse by a corrupt Government.I believe Socialism is a threat to this country on the same level as communism and terrorism. Socialism is more than a simple political party - it is a philosophy in direct opposition to our way of life. Those who believe this philosophy are worthy of surveillance.
But no one will allow this because they fear the power of government will, in turn, be used against them. That the IRS just might decide to audit you every year, or the FBI just might follow you around.
No power should be abused, but it is. Terrorism should not exists, but it does. Both are tolerated by those who see evilness in the tools that would prevent it, simply because of the abuses that have taken place due to a corrupt Government.