Invasion of privacy and loss of freedom in the USA
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
United States
April 24, 2007 1:52am CST
The American people are losing their privacy more and more everyday. My mother watched a news show the other night and she said that on the show it was indicated that all over the USA there are rooms set up so that the gov't can tap into all phone calls, cell phone call, and computer connections. They are listening to everything we say and reading everything we type. Ever since I was a little girl, I would hear the words, "America is the greatest country in the world." I still hear those words. After hearing them so much, you believe them. I think America is changing rapidly. We are losing our privacy, ability to make choices and freedom. We have men and women dying in other countries for our freedom, and yet we are losing it right her on the homefront. What are your thought? Whatever country you are from, are you losing your freedom, too?
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/resources/17343res20031114.html
5 people like this
14 responses
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
24 Apr 07
You only just realised this? Most (if not all) governments spy on there own people and have been doing so for a very long time. When the CIA where banned from listening to private telephone calls in the USA they set up a facility here in the UK so that they could continue to spy on people regardless. They do so in "the interests of national security" or as the latest excuse has it, "fighting terrorism". The ability of the private citizen, in whatever country that you live in, to make free choices is largely illusionary. Everything that we do is constrained and controlled by government edict and diktat.
4 people like this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
24 Apr 07
No, I did not just realize this. There was a story on TV about how Yahoo and ATT and others are allowing the gov't to do this.
2 people like this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
24 Apr 07
I'm not sure that the right word is "allowed" perhaps it's more the case that they are required to divulge information.
3 people like this
@biznizman01 (581)
• Philippines
24 Apr 07
i'm happy to say that our country is not yet that technologically advance to mount such an endeavor. there are even provinces that has no electricity in my country.
freedom is still a luxury we still have. poverty and corruption is our main concern here.
i feel sad if this is true. with the advent of advance computer technology, spying on people have become more easily accomplished. i think they (the government) are doing these as a measure to ensure the safety of its people. but the downside is, your privacy is being invaded.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
24 Apr 07
It was on the news the other night that the ISPs and phone companies are doing this with the gov't.
2 people like this
@goshimhappy (334)
• United States
25 Apr 07
No country can be perfect, all countries have some sort of corruption or invasion of privacy.
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
24 Apr 07
You think there like my husband girl, for me personally I don't mind. If it will keep criminals at bay I'm all for it. I look at it like this.
Since they installed CCTV camera's in our capital city Johannesburg, which is also the capital with the highest crime in the world, crime has taken a knock of 10 percent.
As long as they don't invade my bedroom and bathroom I'm fine with it. I think they work on the same principle as MyLot when it comes to phone calls and emails. Like MyLot are using algorithms I'm sure they are using the same type of algorithms. So when you say bomb or anything threatening they will be very interested in you.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
24 Apr 07
When you are married to an Arab/Muslim, you are more sensitive because they are throwing them in jail for the rest of their lives just because they are associated with something/someone that is suspicious to them--it doesn't matter if they are guilty or not. Yet they let many child molester out in a few years. My husband cannot even go to an Arab restaurant. If you are caught talking to someone who has a problem with the FBI or INS, they throw the book at you, too. So it is dangerous to go to Arab restaurant. It is dangerous to go to the mosque. It is dangerous to talk to anyone who is Arab/Muslim. There are Arab/Muslim men being sent back to their countries on little technicalities, leaving behind a wife and children and they will not see them for 10 years or more. Big brother is watching us. There is so much we cannot do that others can do.
1 person likes this
@nicolec (2671)
• United States
24 Apr 07
Eveer since the invention of social security numbers the government has had the capability of tracking and spying on people. That's what we are, a number. Personally I don't care if they want to listen in on my phone conversations. They aren't that interesting anyways and I have nothing to hide. What I don't like is being tracked by the SS#. Everything you do these days you have to provide a SS#. Apply for a loan, buy a house, buy a car, get a job, apply for a credit card, get electricity, water a cell phone. You name it. Try buying these things without a SS#. Nothing is secret, nor has it ever been.
Luckily for me, I just don't care. Let them spy on me. Like I said, I have nothing to hide.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
24 Apr 07
We don't have anything to hide either. We just don't like the idea of being treated this way.
1 person likes this
@terilee79720 (3621)
• United States
24 Apr 07
When you think about it Yestheypayme2dothis, we are so completely governed already it's a shame. The government tells us where we can live, how much we can pay for our homes, the cars we drive, the price we pay for everything and so much more. We are governed where to send our children for school, how much money we can make, how much we pay for electricity and more.
Still, I don't think I would want to live in another country. USA is the greatest country on earth.
2 people like this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I love my country and I don't want to live anywhere else, but the more we accept the worse it will get.
1 person likes this
@praveenkumar06 (4077)
• Hyderabad, India
24 Apr 07
We faced invasion and conquest by the most powerful nation on the face of the Earth: ... "The Fountainhead," privacy is the very foundation of freedom.
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I agree that privacy is the very foundation of freedom.
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
25 Apr 07
You have no right to privacy, there is no such guarantee in our country. The only right to privacy is your inherrent right that your privacy keeps your other rights intact.
The domestic surveillence program is legal. People complain about it giving it all that hype and trying to blow it out of proportion, but its all just for show.
Here's what the editor that exposed the program later said about exposing it (and notice that this was buried in the middle of the newspaper)
http://www.swift.com/index.cfm?item_id=60735
1 person likes this
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
25 Apr 07
Why? Where are all the people who are having their freedoms taken away? Are you not criticizing the government openly this very moment?
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I am not going to debate with you. We are not on the same page.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
25 Apr 07
I still like having my privacy. It is a part of being able to say we have our freedom. They keep saying we do...but we don't.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
24 Apr 07
Yea, I think every government does it. I really don't care what they do because if they want to spy then it's okay with me. It's not like I have anything to hide. I think it's a given fact that most countries do because they want to track the criminals and stuff. Most of the non criminals they don't even keep track of. It is just a common fact I believe. Have a nice day and thank you so much for that news article it was a nice read :)
Pablo
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I've been aware of this for years. I've heard that all of these communications are being monitored for certain keywords that are like a trigger. When something like that happens, we could be under investigation without even knowing it, and while being completely innocent. I don't believe we have any privacy anymore. Even in a remote area, our actions and words can be picked up by satellite technology. So if you're out camping in the woods, out in a national forest somewhere, they could be monitoring anything you do in your tent, while you're thinking you are so far out in the wilderness and free.
2 people like this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
24 Apr 07
So while we say we are fighting for our freedom.....we are actually losing it.
1 person likes this
@momoftwingirls (859)
• United States
25 Apr 07
Hi,
I believe you totally, but I would not look to the ACLU for any comfort. They are just a front for the government to make the people think they are doing their best to "protect" us.
If you are really concerned, please visit these websites:
1. Spychips
2. No National ID
3. Prison Planet
4. Infowars
They will really give you the information you seek.
@momoftwingirls (859)
• United States
25 Apr 07
You are so welcome.
BTW, I do love America, just do not love our "leaders".
1 person likes this
@dh_murphy (7)
• United States
25 Apr 07
You know I agree with you! I figured that the government is in complete control, you think people who are skitsofrantic are crazy, but they rant and rave about the government taping into our lives and conspericy theroys! They are prob right. People who vote for bills such as the ones that are being set in front of us today like "No somking in your car while there is a child under a certain age" I believe that people should not smoke in the car while kids are in there, however if they pass that law, then they will pass the law that youy can not smoke in your car at all, then not on the streets, and eventually not in your homes... That is our freedom they are taking away!
1 person likes this
