Government corruption appears increasingly to be the rule rather than the exception …
It is a sad fact of life that our government has become overwhelmingly corrupt. With politicians pursuing their self-interests by selling access to non-public information as well as their votes in return for campaign funding, voter support, media attention, and future perks, privileges, and profits for themselves, their families, and the special interest friends. Not to mention the bureaucracy of the government itself, where bureaucrats are trying to enlarge the size and scope of their activities, not only for job security, but for the same type of personal enrichment – albeit at a smaller scale – than the political class.
To this end, many have subverted the Constitution of the United States and turned a document that specifically limits the powers of the federal government into a document used to justify the unwarranted usurpation of power. Aided and abetted by a Supreme Court that has moved far beyond ruling on the Constitutionality of cases and providing redress for grievances to becoming a partisan political group that usurps the sole law-making power of Congress by imposing bright-line tests that effectively become law.
Even worse, we are seeing the federal government pursue unconstitutional pathways and exerting power over the states, in violation of the Tenth Amendment, by re-distributing illegally collected and unnecessary tax money only to those states and entities that conform with their political agenda.
Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
By using their intrusive and coercive powers, the government continues to violate the Constitution and there does not appear to be any quest to restrict, restrain, or repeal the government’s unconstitutional activities.
Research or spying?
From surveying the wants and needs of their constituents to the type of surveillance that is a violation under the Fourth Amendment, we are seeing more and more data being collected from citizens directly, and without their knowledge or consent. The creation and use of information databases that would be prohibited under federal law if they were maintained by the government is now overcome by purchasing access to commercial databases. Many of these databases collect the data surreptitiously and without the consumer’s knowledge under the guise of improving the consumer’s “user experience” and authorized by those long unilateral “click to agree” user agreements and terms of use.
Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
Post facto prosecution …
One of the greatest dangers of government information collection appears to be the warehousing of data that is collected, but not accessed without a warrant. Upon suspicion of the commission of a crime, a warrant is duly obtained and the data accessed. Unfortunately, while it may be legal to access information under the law with a warrant, this gives rise to the government’s ability to manufacture a case out of whole cloth. Selecting information that supports the elements of the crime, namely “intent” and allows the government to weave a case using factoids that may be taken out of context. Seeing a rising degree of corruption and malfeasance within both law enforcement and prosecution, there is no guarantee that exculpatory information will be divulged to the defense not the defense being given access to the entire datastore to craft a suitable and compelling defense. Likewise, there are little real protections over information leaked to journalists who are not compelled to reveal their sources or information that appears to be simply thrown over the transom without attribution.
Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
“No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”
Bottom line …
With the increasing corruption of politics, it is time for “We the People” to respect and reinforce the Constitution of the United States by using the only tool available short of rebellion and revolution. We need to remove those politicians who appear to have grown fat at the government’s smorgasbord and to investigate and prosecute those who are corrupt or cover-up corruption. Including, but not limited to, those who direct the country’s law enforcement and prosecutorial efforts.
It is time to codify protections over electronic data that may be misused by government employees, their agents, informants, and others for political, personal, profit-making, or any other unlawful usage. That the penalties be harsh, swiftly imposed, and un-modifiable by plea bargain, parole, or time off for good behavior. And, that the government be held accountable for damages, provable in a court of law, for the harm that comes to any individual occasioned by the misuse of electronic information held by the government and misused by its direct and indirect representatives.
And, above all, limit the types of data that can be collected without an individuals knowledge, purchased from a third party, or otherwise obtained by the government. Restoring sanctity to medical and financial information that was heretofore hard to obtain because the records resided in geographically dispersed places and in non-searchable paper formats.
Sad as it is to day, a citizen can no longer trust their government to represent “We the People” over the political and financial special interests. Especially, in the case of the progressive socialist democrats who appear to have gone beyond acting upon their personal self-interests, to becoming a clear and present danger to the safety and security of America and Americans by acting as a fifth column to destroy our country from within – to the benefit of our enemies, both foreign and domestic.
While I will not tell you how to vote, I will suggest that the greatest danger facing our nation today is the imbalance of political power between the branches of government and the overwhelming danger that may arise from inappropriate information collection and abuse. To that extent, it appears that the progressive socialist democrats and their RINO (Republican In Name Only) cohorts appear to represent a clear and present danger to the Constitution, their constituents, and “We the People” and our standard of living.
Time to vote for your freedom, not your corrupt political party or politician.
-- steve
P.S. You may wish to support the Electronic Frontier Foundation (www.eff.org) that is protecting consumers and citizens during the transition from analog to digital laws.