Thursday, November 21, 2002

Finally! Philippe DeCroy writes at the Volokh Conspiracy about the Orwellian measures taken by our federal government to restrict personal liberties... I mean, combat terrorism. What has puzzled me these past few weeks is just how little dissent has come from Republicans on this stuff. They do this even though it is obvious that if one of the Clintons were in office and attempting to create ìTotal Information Awareness,î these same Republicans would be shouting and pointing and making apt comparisons to the old Soviet Union. But now most of them are silent, perhaps because they reflexively support their fellow in the White House or because they trust that the Defense Department will use its new powers carefully and that the powers are needed to keep us all safe. I've been talking to several of my friends about the USA PATRIOT Act and the Department of Homeland Security this week. No one -- not a single person -- that I have talked to thinks that these are good things. These are not merely temporary fixes to current problems. I am probably going to be living with these programs for the rest of my life. And that is a frightening thought. 3:06:50 PM    comment []