NSA "Spying" vs. Privacy

Folks, the left, which includes the media, Democrats, and RINOs like Arlen Spectre (yes, that's the way I think it should be spelled) are just going bananas over this old news (as noted by Big Lizards) about NSA "spying." Real Clear Politics talks about the civil liberties at issue here. And Michelle Malkin describes how out of touch the left is with America -- but there's one thing missing in this discussion -- reality.

You see, much of the discussion focuses on protecting this "right to privacy." I'm not completely convinced that's a right, but for this discussion, I'll accept that it is. However, you only have the right to privacy about certain things. If you stand on a street corner and hold up a sign with your name and SSN on it, you cannot reasonable expect that it will remain private.

In this case where USA Today dredges up an accusation against the NSA, there are, very clearly, no violations of privacy. They are not listening to phone conversations. Here's a comparable example:

If you walk into a store and buy something, the store will likely have a record of that transaction. They will have a record that shows a list of the things you have purchased. That's not your record, it belongs to the store. Courts have ruled over and over again that YOU do not own that record. Since the store owns the record, they can do whatever they like with it, including giving it away or selling it. There's no personal information there, just the record that someone bought a list of items on a certain time and date -- that's it.

Anyone who claims there are any violations to any right of privacy are just plain wrong on this one.

Stop the ACLU also notices that there are zero violations of the law here.

Posted by: Ogre at 02:37 PM

Comments

1 So you're "not completely convinced that's a right" regarding privacy, eh? I think you are a unAmerican traitor and a coward to boot.

That's what I think, fake patriot.

Posted by: real Patriot at May 12, 2006 11:39 PM (8czMX)

2 There isn't a definitive right to privacy spelled out in the Constitution and if you can find one please show me. This latest old program for collecting information isn't in vioaltion of any laws and the Demonuts darn well know it. It is funny Democrat minority leader Bela Pelosi ( in case you wonder why I call her Bela Pelosi; she is as scary as the late Bela Logosi(sp))didn't seem to have any problem with this program when she was first given details of the program. Now that the Democrats see that they can use it again to continue to hammer President Bush they are acting like they are shocked.

Posted by: Jon at May 13, 2006 12:13 AM (wZLWV)

3 Bela Pelosi? You realize Legosi would be insulted...

But you're right, this has nothing to do with privacy or the Constitution, it's ALL political.

Posted by: Ogre at May 14, 2006 03:13 PM (blszc)

4 I've just been staying at home not getting anything done. I guess it doesn't bother me. Shrug. I haven't been up to anything. I haven't gotten much done today.

Posted by: Kaka74658 at July 19, 2006 10:04 PM (sZhya)

5 I just don't have anything to say. Not that it matters. Eh. I've just been staying at home doing nothing, but I don't care. That's how it is.

Posted by: Kaka93367 at July 19, 2006 10:42 PM (jGisb)






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