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Double Standard on Secrecy

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carol wolman, MD
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The Founding Fathers were very concerned with making sure that government did not unduly interfere with individual freedom. Thus, the US Constitution protects privacy:

FOURTH AMENDMENT [U.S. 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.'

The right to privacy includes inviolability of the person, the home, of vehicles, correspondence, of medical and financial records- all the aspects of a person's life that are personal, and don't impinge on society. The right can be violated on "probable cause" of criminal activity, but only after a court has issued a warrant.

The right to privacy is out the window with the Patriot Act, the Homeland Security Act and above all, the imperial powers that Bush has arrogated to himself as commander-in-chief. He doesn't even bother getting warrants to snoop on private communications of all sorts, and claims it is his right.(THAT's why he needed a war.) There is no more privacy for individuals in the US.

By contrast, our government is supposed to be transparent, its workings available and accountable to "we the people", who pay for its operations with our taxes. Our direct representatives in Congress have the duty to oversee expenditures and to investigate the decision-making process of the executive branch. The US government is a public institution, and its books and workings should be available to the public.

The Bush administration is the most secretive ever. Its meetings are closed, there are no press conferences, requests from Congress for information, eg on the process that led to the invasion of Iraq, are ignored. Information is considered a weapon in the slow coup d'etat that has stolen our constitutional republic. Truth is not a consideration.

Whereas the secrets of private individuals (as long as they don't harm others) are just that, private, to be respected, the secrets of government should be minimal, only that which is absolutely necessary for national security. In fact, if this nation would pursue peace, national security would not be a problem.

The secrets of the Bush administration are gradually being laid bare, as the federal prosecutors pursue the crimes of Abramoff and of the exposers of Valerie Plame's CIA status. Bloggers have replaced investigative journalists, and are ferreting out the truth about the 9-11 criminal conspiracy, the rigged voting machines, the bribed Congresspeople, the conspiracy to deceive the American public into Iraq, the use of outlawed weapons like DU and napalm, and so many other outrages.

Mark 4: 22For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
http://www.usccb.org/nab/012606.shtml

Let's call for an end to the double standard on secrecy. Let Bush tell "we the people" what he and his goons are up to, before they claim the right to intrude on our private lives.

In the name of the Prince of Peace, Carol Wolman
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Carol S. Wolman, MD is a psychiatrist in Northern California. A lifelong peace activist, she is helping to distribute a Peace Plan for the Holy Land- email her for a copy. She also a film producer with Paradise Cove Productions, currently (more...)
 

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