The Federal Government Is Trampling your Right to Contact America’s Enemies in Private

I will freely admit that I’ve longed believed the mainstream media has a left-wing bias.  I will also freely admit that I, personally, have more of a right-wing bias, and that I am therefore more sensative, perhaps, to such biases when they come from a purportedly “balanced” media.

So I was annoyed, but not surprised, when I read the ABC News write-up of the Congressional passage of the FISA Bill.  From the page title (“Spy Bill Passes: Gov’t Free to Spy on You”) to its faintly veiled commentary (“And so the FISA bill was an ‘historial embarrassment’ that Specter became complicit in when he chose later to vote for the law.”), the piece is rife with the sort of fear-mongering nonsense for which the news media is, sadly, becoming known.  And,  of course, their basic conclusion, that the Government wants to SPY ON YOU, is not only way off-base, but an out-and-out lie on the part of liberals and media goons.

What the bill does do — what the Homeland Security domestic spying program has always done — is allow for the wiretapping of known enemies of the state (i.e., terrorists), and those inside our borders who are in contact with them.  How do we know these domestic individuals are in contact?  Simple.  When you call a tapped phone, your call is traced.  The bill also grants cooperating phone companies a level of protection from lawsuits for the act of, you know, aiding in the defense of our country.

So let’s review:  The government isn’t spying on you.  George Bush doesn’t give two flying figs about your date last night, or how hot the neighbor is, or about the crappy book you’re reading.  Unless you happen to be chatting up a known Enemy of State, your communication is secure.  We simply don’t have the resources to tap every phone in America, and Americans wouldn’t stand for it if we did (even Republicans).  Nobody’s “rights” are being violated — unless you consider the ability to privately contact a terrorist a “right.”

Just a fair warning, by the way: Anyone who chooses to argue by incorrectly quoting Ben Franklin, and attempting to equate his brilliant remarks on essential liberty and temporary safety to the situation here will simply be labeled an idiot and ignored, unless you can demonstrate how contacting known terrorists falls under “essential liberty.”  Good luck with that.