Hypothetical situation time:
Let's say you mailed an important letter. It doesn't matter to whom, or what the contents is; it can be anything you want. Maybe it's a letter to your doctor. Maybe it's to your lawyer. Maybe it's a love letter to your secret someone.
Should the federal government be permitted to open, read, document, and catalog your correspondence?
Why or why not?
-
3 RepliesAs usual, we find ourselves trying to apply black and white answers to incredibly grey areas of discussion. Legally? Morally? Absolutely not. There should be zero ability for our government to invade our privacy in any way without a formal investigation placed against us, and a warrant in their hands. It's a liberty guaranteed to us as American citizens to have due process against us. And changing that (even for a seemingly good reason) can open the door for abuses of power unlike anything we've ever had to deal with. 1984 can and could actually happen very quickly. The Orwellian distopia isn't as far off or as unbelievable as some people think. But on the other hand.. I kinda want to see terror suspects caught before they hurt people. And our constitution wasn't written with modern problems in mind. Nor are our laws set up in a way that allows these people to be found without "bending" or even shattering our current legal standards. So we have to ask ourselves.. what's more important to us? Personal privacy, or the protection of our people? If you feel it's privacy, would that answer change if you somehow found out it was your family that was the target? Or would you say "-blam!- due process, let's find these bastards!" Personally, I respect either answer because both are completely right depending on which side of the argument your heart places you. And I can't fault anyone for feeling one way or the other.