The NSA v. Liberty

I am concerned and angry that the NSA has gone far beyond constitutional limits in gathering and storing information about American citizens. The NDAA and FISA and the Patriot Act itself have allowed the government to intrude on citizens privacy supposedly in the name of security. As has been pointed out in a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin, "Those who sacrifice essential liberty for a little security deserve neither."

More and more we are learning the extent to which our right to privacy has been violated by the very government which is entrusted to uphold our civil rights. It is not only ethically wrong it is also wrong-headed to assume that the little security gained justifies this expensive and expansive intrusion into the lives of American citizens. At this point, the government  becomes no better than the terrorists we so fear. Or of the countries we condemn for their security state mentality.

It is often argued that if you do nothing wrong that you have nothing to fear. This misses the point that the collection of personal and private information is unconstitutional (as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court in multiple cases such as Pierce v. Society of Sisters, Roe v Wade, etc). The High Court has repeatedly found that there is an inherent right to privacy as has Article 12 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights:

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Those who have done nothing wrong ought to be offended most gravely. If I have done nothing wrong then the collection of my private information is a form of stealing. Even if I HAVE done something wrong my information can only be taken via a warrant.

The current methods of the NSA violate the Constitution, the UN Declaration of Human Rights and commonly held morality. All such agencies should be under regular scrutiny by Congress to ensure the propriety of their actions and policies. The NSA, FBI, CIA and other alphabet agencies MUST be held accountable.  Congress should promptly investigate the actions of the NSA and exercise oversight.