Off the Reservation

Found this well written piece. Enjoy. Off the Democrat Plantation

For you literary pleasure......again.

Just a little something I wrote back in July 2003. I thought it was time to revisit.

 Over the years I have observed that society, in the United States, has increasingly chipped away at the Right to Privacy of individual American citizens. Primarily due to the significant increase in information technology, many Americans, through the actions of their legislators, appear to support the steady erosion of individual liberty for the sake of a blurry sense of security. Furthermore, with a high profile and over exposed media, many issues that affect the few are being exaggerated to promote legislation that affect the many.  Lost in the shuffle are the rights for people to be “left alone,” to be “anonymous” or in some cases to private self-expression, all of which fall under the Right to Privacy argument currently being discussed nationally. Consequently, we are presented with a national ethical dilemma; does the security of the majority outweigh the individual liberty of law-abiding citizens?
      For example, legislation known as the “Patriot Act” recently passed Congress in response to the events on 9-11-2001, which provides law enforcement organizations unprecedented access the personal and private communications and computer files of individuals suspected of, or in some way affiliated with terrorist activities.
     Technology has also risen to the point where Video Face Identification programs may soon be put in place in many urban centers. This technology will provide law enforcement with the ability to scan thousands of face captures in the pursuit of criminals and terrorists.
     The marketplace has long been a part of the problem, requiring government-issued identification for consumers to make purchases by check or to use a credit card. When applying for credit, applying for a job, making major purchases, opening a checking account or visiting a doctor’s office, a driver’s license or social security card is necessary.
     So what is the ethical issue involved? It is privacy, pure and simple. The Constitution of the United States declares that all citizens are guaranteed certain rights to privacy, but it does not say that a citizen must possess government-supplied identification in order to exercise God-given rights. Nor does it say that the government or the citizenry have a right to infringe upon those rights for the sake of security, except in the most dire of situations. 9-11 was indeed a significant event that required action on the part of the government, but I believe that the resulting legislation was a knee-jerk reaction that threatens the individual liberty of all that it was created to protect. Even more disturbing is the fact that many citizens are more than willing to give up their constitutionally granted rights for the sake of security, believing that if you haven’t done anything wrong that you have nothing to fear. This is dangerous thinking because this reasoning can be applied over and over to many different situations, resulting in, following a logical conclusion, Totalitarianism or Fascism. As one who values the liberty enjoyed by Americans since the country’s inception, I am loath to relinquish a single liberty for any reason and am inclined to believe that the answer is more freedom, not less.
     I also believe that this reasoning flies in the face of true ethics, since we give up believing in the responsibility and sensibility of the individual for government directed beliefs and morals. Therefore, ethics are lost because we give up the right to keep personal information private, along with the ability to make individual choices (autonomy). We become driven to practice right and wrong and abiding by the law (Non-maleficence), not from self-imposed direction but due to fear of the penal consequences applied by the authorities. Lastly, we lose the true essence of Justice, whereby the government gains a supremely unequal and elevated position that makes individual civil disobedience and expression all but impossible.
     If all Americans were properly educated in the declarations and guarantees of the Constitution and were more apt to pay greater attention to the daily events of our government, I believe that the majority would be shocked by the ongoing legislative destruction of individual liberty. Our current demanding lifestyle and culture prevents us from actually keeping watch on our elected representatives. We are all just too busy, to our detriment.

A Call to Reality or No Left Turn

On the way to work I tuned into my regular morning radio station and  listened to CBS Radio News: Reporters Notebook 7\26 with Steve Fuddeman, who opined(sic) about the local reactions to the Norway bombing this week. (Hear it here http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/reporters-notebook/id187642234) Needless to say, he ended it with "...there are deeper issues that need to be examined, specifically, far right extremism that has always been there, but can no longer be ignored."

..........................................Truly amazing...................................................................................................

Well, I guess I've been wrong about the state of things for the last 11 years. Hell, I must be a freaking moron! Here I thought the most heinous acts violence since 9\11 were committed by Islamic Fundamentalists in the name of Allah. It truly hurts to be this wrong. Wrong about Ft Hood, Tx! Wrong about the warring states in Africa! Wrong about the bombings and murders in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan! Wrong about the bombings in Indonesia! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! These were actually committed by far-right extreme Christian fundamentalists dressing up as Islamofascist terrorists!

Liberals are funny....

Godspeed First Lady Betty Ford

A strange thing happened at work today, State Highway 111 was commandeered by the FBI, Secret Service and local authorities to speed the funeral procession from St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Palm Desert to Palm Springs International Airport. Really, the funny thing was the number of people who took note of the procession to pay their respects. Many came out of their shops and offices or rose from their seats at the nearby bus stop. It wasn't a large number, but considering that it was a hot summer morning, I was surprised nonetheless.

          Photos of Ford Funeral Procession by Kristian Howard ©
 
Mrs. Ford was a wonderful example of a strong American woman. Yes, she had flaws, many more public than others, but she was courageous enough to face them and to help others with similar problems. She was outspoken, strongly opinionated and didn't mind rocking the boat, but her compassion for others is what truly marked her presence on this earth. She was one of a kind. Godspeed.

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The Return

Okay, after another two year hiatus I return to the blogosphere to add my two cents to the social and political discourse of the day. After a critical review of the previous posts and comments I can see that I was wrong concerning some things I predicted to happen but correct regarding some others. Such is the way of life, no one is perfect nor always right. As such, I truly appreciate the good Lord's lessons in humility and pray for his continued guidance and providence in all aspects of my life, though I be most unworthy.

I hope you find food for thought, pearls of wisdom or items to just set me straight. Ciao.

P.S. Am still looking for the benefits of that war in Iraq for oil thingy.

Released!

Well, it finally happened. Both former U.S. Border Agents Ramos and Compean were released from Federal prison a month after former President Bush commuted their sentences for shooting a suspected drug dealer in the butt.

Consequently, I can now add Republican candidates to my voting rolls. It was tough voting for a lot of candidates destined to lose, i.e. Alan Keyes, but my conscience felt better doing it.

Dear Mr. President

As I drove home from work today, I heard on the radio that Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean surrendered themselves to Federal custody to begin serving 11 and 12 year sentences for "violating Osvaldo Aldrete Davila’s civil rights and of tampering with evidence for not reporting the shooting of Aldrete and for picking up shell casings." I immediately had to pull over because of the sickness in my gut! I couldn't believe that you did not pardon these men!

I have been following this case closely since it began and I was sadly disappointed that your administration refused to stand by two officers who were not only defending themselves, but also defending you, me, our families, as well as our fellow citizens.

However, as your term in office has continued, I have found myself repeatedly disappointed in your administration of government. You refuse to do anything about the southern border, you refuse to shrink government, you have spent tax dollars at a record pace and under your leader the Republican party lost both the House and the Senate due to your lack of leadership and failure to communicate the strategy in Iraq. I truly believe that you have lost touch with the average American.

You are wrong not to pardon these men. You are wrong regarding a lot of things and have made a fool out of me, as well as a lot of others who had great confidence in you. Well, I am fool no more! Until these men are freed, I will vote independent or Democrat. At least I know who they are. I thought that we shared common values, but regarding the ones that count, loyalty and integrity, I see that we don't.