Bush's New Attack on Privacy

USA Today is reporting that the Bush Administration has been collecting massive amounts of data from Verizon, AT&T and BellSouth about millions of Americans' telephone records. Perhaps this explains the report that AT&T built an ultra secret room in their San Francisco communications center to intercept all transmissions over its fiber optic cables.

This is upsetting on many levels. First it's an invasion of privacy. Unprecented. Big Brother personified. With modern data mining technology the government can know who you call and when, how long you talk, and combine that with all the other data you contribute to databases. This includes your buying habits if you use a credit or debit card or any of the ubiquitous retail store "discount" cards. These cards allow each store you patronize to track all your purchases and your buying and shopping habits. When the government can data mine this info with your telephone calls and everything else that's in those databases the concept of privacy becomes a joke. Of course Rick Santorum says you have no right of privacy.

It's also done in the name of fighting terrorists. Folks if we continue accepting all these warrantless invasions of our records, homes, and conversations we've already lost the war on terror. The government will be terrorizing all of us and we'd have allowed them all the tools to do so. It reminds me of a scene in Star Wars Revenge of the Sith. As the Senate handed all power to the new Emperor by acclamation Natalie Portman's character decries the fact that democracy died to thunderous applause. We cannot continue to allow all our freedoms to be eroded in the cause of fighting terror. Enough is enough. By this rationalization we can shred what's left of our Constitution and surrender our Bill of Rights.

Another thought came to me immediately. I use Verizon for DSL. I know Chuck Pennacchio uses Verizon for his cell phone and office phones. If Verizon is providing information to the Republican Administration on their customers who's to say Bush won't use this knowledge politically? What's to stop them? Nothing. Remember, the Bush Administration politicizes everything. They are politicizing every facet, every department in our Federal government. They even politicized the Social Security Administration though it's against the law.

Oh I forgot. Bush says he can ignore any law he doesn't agree with. I guess that makes it legal. If you aren't outraged you aren't paying attention.