FBI division / check’s & balances
Yesterday President Bush approved the creation of a defense division within the FBI and within then Justice Dept. This move places part of the FBI under control of the National Security chief and presents some civil liberty issues due to spies and police working together - full story in the San Jose Mercury News here
In the past we have expressed concern over parts of the patriot act that allow warrant less search, and though we are not ACLU fans either, we have concerns about spies working within the US with federal police. Fundamentally it is not profitable for anyone when freedoms and independence are lost in the name of security and protection. We support the war on terror, we want to see America as a safe and secure nation, but we are for legal and proper uses of police and federal action, not the current move to justify any action desired in the name of security. National security is quickly becoming the new version of “it’s for the children”. In other words, a justification for anything that is desired by using something that people do not want to oppose - national security or children.
All we want is a set system of check’s and balances. Ninety percent plus of all agents may follow the law and act reasonably, but what about the rogue agents. If the rights of a citizen are infringed upon it is not sufficient for the offending agent to be reprimanded or demoted. The rights of the citizen can not be restored or replaced once they are broken. We all know of examples of excessive use of government power and authority - be it local, state or federal - and many time there is no real punishment for abuse of power.
The citizens are suppose to be the power in the government in a republic. We are not vassals, we are not given rights BY the government, we GRANT the government rights to maintain and secure a civil and just society. It is time that the government began to understand that they are not the boss of the citizens, and that it is the other way around. Citizens deserve to be treated with respect and should not have to worry about overreaching, zealous agents and their actions. There MUST be some form of severe punishment for all offenses by government employees (regardless of the department) against it’s citizens. Until this strong deterrent is in bills all expansions of government powers should be of concern to the citizens.
