One more nail in the coffin of the 4th amendment

A copy of the letter I sent to my congressman and senators today regarding the FBI's request to seize more personal information about your electronic life.

I read this morning in the Washington Post the article on the Obama Administration's request to grant the FBI expanded powers in seek electronic information about American citizens without a warrant.

These expanded powers, as part of the National Securities Letters issued under the FBI's own authority, fly directly in the face of the Constitution, specifically the fourth amendment which states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." This amendment which protects the privacy of every American citizen, continues to be eviscerated in the name of security.

As a constituent, I am asking you to stand against this usurpation of power by the executive branch. There is no reason why the FBI cannot obtain the information they need on an individual by seeking a warrant from the judicial branch. The FISA court can provide timely warrants while still allowing for some modicum of protect for the American citizenry.

Congressman, this is not about national security. This is about power accumulating more power until we are no longer citizens but subjects. Please act in the best interests of constituents like me and protect our constitutionally protected right to security in our persons, houses, papers, and effects.

Sincerely

Jason L. S. Raia
Valley Forge, PA

Quote of the Day

I was reading the AP wires this morning and ran across this quote from Pope Benedict XVI that truly resonates with me.

"It seems that every space, every moment must be filled with initiatives, activities, sounds. Often there isn't even the time to listen."



Sometimes I think we are so busy, that we cannot hear anything other than the noise of our daily lives, which means we have little chance of hearing what our friends and family are saying to us, much less what God might be whispering in our ear. If only we would take a moment or two every day to sit quietly and listen. They used to call that prayer, and I know I could use some more of it.




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