not too mention human nature. History proves you give someone a certain level of power and they will want more. So you have to be willing to put 100% faith in your govt officials.

I don't think there's too many people willing to sign away their rights like that.

>>>>Pssst, it's not the red star that makes one a commie! shhhhhh, they have spies watching and listening. Your neighbor will turn you in. (does that ring a bell?)
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>>>So your president's demand for a law which gives FBI almost unlimited freedom to listen into and checking everybody's telphone calls and internet use, makes him a commie then? If not, can you please explain the difference?
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>>You mean you REALLY don't see the difference in our national policy and one where the government pays your brother to snitch on you? Ok, I go slowly. Our Patriot Act allows tapping phone calls from outsite the US, but with a degree of oversight. I think it is a good policy. We wiretap all the time on our citizens, just like your law enforcement does, but with a warrant.
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>>As a matter of fact, I believe there are European partners in the Carnivore project, which monitors all kinds of stuff. The data they have retrieved has stopped hundreds, if not thousands, of terrorist attempts. It's a good thing.
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>>Having said that, I don't want a big brother either. But, I think these safeguards are fine. And, wasn't it you who was talking about how great it is to not have to use a check or cash? Guess what, the government can take all your stuff, if your wealth is all electronically controlled! That is a scary thought.
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>You don't want a Big Brother? You're embracing him! The so-called Patriot Act (the phrase itself makes me want to spit) basically says the government can look into our bank accounts, our phone calls, and probably our bedrooms. You're fine with that?