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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEdward Snowden: saving us from the United Stasi of America - Guardian/UK
Thank you, Daniel Ellsberg and, of course, Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/10/edward-snowden-united-stasi-america?INTCMP=SRCH
In my estimation, there has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden's release of NSA material and that definitely includes the Pentagon Papers 40 years ago. Snowden's whistleblowing gives us the possibility to roll back a key part of what has amounted to an "executive coup" against the US constitution.
Since 9/11, there has been, at first secretly but increasingly openly, a revocation of the bill of rights for which this country fought over 200 years ago. In particular, the fourth and fifth amendments of the US constitution, which safeguard citizens from unwarranted intrusion by the government into their private lives, have been virtually suspended.
The government claims it has a court warrant under Fisa but that unconstitutionally sweeping warrant is from a secret court, shielded from effective oversight, almost totally deferential to executive requests. As Russell Tice, a former National Security Agency analyst, put it: "It is a kangaroo court with a rubber stamp."
But with Edward Snowden having put his life on the line to get this information out, quite possibly inspiring others with similar knowledge, conscience and patriotism to show comparable civil courage in the public, in Congress, in the executive branch itself I see the unexpected possibility of a way up and out of the abyss.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)We've Outsourced too much to people who can abuse our taxpayer dollars along with our Civil Liberties.
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)The Revolution ended in '83. The Bill of Rights was adopted by the House in '89 and became effective by state ratifications in '91. It was sort of a gentlemen's agreement needed to convince enough states to ratify the US Constitution and drop the Articles of Confederation that were in effect during the American Revolution.
Abrogation of freedom of press, speech and religion are not among the King's offenses against the colonies listed in the Declaration of Independence.