Recent revelations have confirmed what many of us have suspected for years -- that the federal government is spying on our phone calls and internet activity. While the initial response to this news was, predictably, outrage, outspoken proponents of national security are now defending the government's practice. Some are even calling the whistleblower, Edward Snowden, a traitor and are demanding that he be arrested and jailed.
President Obama has addressed the nation, explaining that security cannot be guaranteed without the elimination of some privacy.
Benjamin Franklin said, "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." We would do well to heed those wise words.
Over the past several weeks, our government has established itself as being either grossly corrupt or massively incompetent. Neither scenario is particularly appealing to the average American citizen, though I suppose the latter would be preferable to the former. The president apparently knows nothing until he reads it in the paper. Holder knows nothing at all. Hillary is MIA. The heads of the IRS are clueless as to what their employees are doing.
Right.
We, as a people, are standing at a crossroads. The NSA is currently building a large complex in Utah to store our private information. Government officials and many of the talking heads assure us there is nothing nefarious. The NSA, they say, cannot listen to specific conversations unless they have probable cause, and Obama says that no information is being kept on Americans' internet activity.
Yeah, we can trust the government to play fair. Can anyone say Internal Revenue Service?
Tyranny is hiding just around the corner. Will we walk into the jaws of the wolf like good little sheep? Or will we finally wake up and rise up, as one, against the forces that would subjugate us and destroy our Republic.
Don't listen to Karl Rove and his ilk. They are desperate. Their lofty positions and, more importantly, their agenda are at stake. They will stop at nothing to convince the American people that they have their best interests at heart. They do not.
As always, stay vigilant.
