Seeker,
Your arguments are very valid. Your voice and others like it are very much needed at times such as this. I agree with the need to be cautious and watch closely what laws are eing passed. We live in dangerous times, indeed. Not only the physical threat we are facing, but the tendency of frightened people to needlessly give up their rights in exchange for a feeling of security. And teh ability for a despotic government to take advantage of crisis situations. However, this bears repeating: with more and more and MORE people attempting to peaceably share this planet, the lines between individual rights and community rights thin and get entangled at times. I cannot yell "Fire!" in a movie theatre. By the letter of a free society, this is a blatant violation of my freedom of speech. But it is for a greater, common good, that we cannot yell fire in a theatre. The fact that I have to wear an ID badge with my name, title and credentials facing the public (it's in our company by-laws) is technically invasive to my individuality and privacy (people know my name--sometimes that makes me uncomfortable), but I can guarantee you that you want to know what and who I am if I come at you with a size E needle as you lay in a hospital bed. Your right to safe healthcare, it has been decided, outweighs my need for anonyity. And don't even get me started on healthcare, which is very much socialized, and does in no way reflect our capitalistic ideals--because we decided that a human being's right to healthcare rfar outweighed the right of an individual to make a fortune healing the sick. I happen to think this is a good thing. *sigh* We live under and have adopted the philosophy of "Majority rules". If I want to make you wear an ID badge when you're canvassing my neighborhood with an agenda, and more citizens than not, agree with me, then, in theory, we should be able to prevail and have you wear an ID badge. America is very much a work in progress. I think balance is the key.
Pax,
B.
p.s. While we're at it--down with TELEMARKETERS!!! I'd even take JW's over them (if I absolutely HAD to make the choice)