Tuesday, August 07, 2007

More Illegal Laws

While reading the news today, I saw a rather disturbing headline: "President's Warrantless Wiretapping Powers Extended." If you want to read the full text of the article, it is found here, but the summary is that the President signed a bill allowing the government to monitor electronic communications without a warrant, the only requirement was that a high level official "sign off" on it.

The Fourth Amendment to the constitution clearly states:

"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."

If our persons, houses, papers and effects are protected from search without a warrant, how can the government get away with monitoring electronic communication without a warrant? When did we abandon the rule of law for the rule of convenience and "security"? Illegal, Unconstitutional laws like these cannot be allowed to stand if we wish to hold on to the liberty that we claim to value.