National Security Letter Plaintiff Speaks 185
Panaqqa writes "On Monday, the US government appealed a September ruling striking down a controversial section of the Patriot Act as unconstitutional. The section permits the FBI to send secret demands to ISPs (called 'National Security Letters') for logs and email without first obtaining a judge's approval. The ACLU has quoted the president of the small Plaintiff ISP, identified only as John Doe because of a gag order under the law, saying that the gag provisions make it 'impossible for people... to discuss their specific concerns with the public, the press and Congress.'"
Of course they did... (Score:2, Interesting)
Contact their congressman (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:I HATE THE ACLU! (Score:3, Interesting)
How do you know they are not listening to John talk to his wife or a political opponent plan his/her campaign? It seems like the John Doe bringing the complaint might know. He was forced to cooperate and is saying that he has something to say on the subject that you or I might be interesting in hearing.
I don't use a sig, but the answer is:
Lrf!
George Christian (Score:2, Interesting)
Jesus H. Christ on a crutch. (Score:3, Interesting)
The Proverbial Simple Solution (Score:5, Interesting)
The moment "the government" attempts to appeal a court decision, it is PAINFULLY CLEAR that "the government" is serving its own interests, rather than those of the people. If the court has made an incorrect decision, let THE PEOPLE appeal the decision. Let a private citizen (or group thereof) take up the torch and fight the incorrect decision.
I have a difficult time imagining ANY situation in which "the government" should be allowed to appeal a decision made in the courts. All that really allows is to require only a very small subset of judges be corrupt. The government can simply escalate all the way to the top, past the non-corrupted officials, at which point the case falls under the control of the corrupt party, and "the government" wins.
-G
P.S. I absolutely loathe the term "the government." It is only used to make those being abused by "the government" think there is a single, cohesive entity against which one can wage battle. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The only way to fight this creature is to destroy the entire thing at once. A Wish would do it, and maybe a Fireball, but only if you roll really, really high.
P.P.S Sorry if the paragraphs above are a bit muddled or poorly organized. When I get riled up, I have difficulty organizing my thoughts.
Re:So What? (Score:3, Interesting)
Guess that's what happens when you go against Caesar... and the worst part was that they reinstated an easily exploited, very strong central government with "checks and balances" which were only seen as such by those promoting them.
Hell they had to EMBARGO and blockade Rhode Island to force them to ratify it, after RI shot it down in civil referendum, 11 to 1.
Makes one wonder if the American Revolution wasn't merely a power grab, and the Bill of Rights was a way to pacify the recently veteran revolutionaries who might've raised arms one more time before putting them away for the 230 year long winter that has set since then.
Re:Right... (Score:4, Interesting)
I am missing your point about Europe and its relevance to my comment about the US slowly becoming a totalitarian state. That I know of, the number of totalitarian states in Europe has gone from about 50% in all of europe down to near 0% in the last 15-20 years. Sorry to ask and please forgive me, but can you please clarify because I am assuming I am completely missing something.
Actually (Score:4, Interesting)
It is a privilege nearly as powerful as attorney client privilege. Since spouses are considered to in many ways legally be the same person, they are granted the right to free and open communication, without fear that it will be used against them in trial, civil or criminal.
The upside of naming John Doe (Score:3, Interesting)
Imagine how his business would boom if privacy advocates and tin-foil-hatters accross the nation started transferring their business to him.
Re:I HATE THE ACLU! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Systemic problem (Score:3, Interesting)
If you don't understand libertarianism, don't talk about it.
Re:So What? (Score:2, Interesting)