Is this constitutional?

The FBI is considering a change to its policies: letting agents open preliminary investigations on U.S. citizens -- even ones who haven't done anything wrong -- because they match a terrorist profile. (Race and ethnicity would be parts of the profile, though presumably, not the only qualifiers.)

Critics say it's a form of profiling and unconstitutional. The FBI says this change is needed because of the agency's emphasis on stopping terrorism.

Comments

[Keith G in P.V.]

Is it constitutional? The legal arguments will turn on the tension between constitutional freedoms and Presidential law enforcement powers, with both sides arguing "The Constitution gives us..." In the end, it depends upon how willing we, the public, are to being snooped on in the guise that government is "protecting" us. Others will say it's intrusive, unjustified snooping into our private lives, the 21st century equivalent of King George III's billeting large numbers of troops in the colonies during the 1760s and 1770s.

Personally, I find it odd that much "law enforcement" action today is so similar to British rule 240 years ago or German governmental expansion 75 years ago. In both cases, "protecting the public" was the propaganda excuse. Power structures will always try to expand their power. But, hey, what do I know?

[Biker Swede]

Welcome to George Orwell's "1984". We can thank our spineless representatives for not putting a stop to the erosion of our liberty's. It seems that the Party in power wants more power by using scare tactics (i.e another 9/11} to pass laws to watch and control our lives. This country just celebrated it's 232nd birthday that threw out such tyrants. Thomas Jefferson said that the tree of liberty at times must be fertilized with the blood of tyrants and patriots. Maybe it is time for another revolution and take back our country. Viva the revolution!

[The DB]

I guess the people we have elected to protect and defend the constitution have decided not to read those documents. We make people that want citizenship take a test. Maybe we should make the people we elect take the same test.

[KC CIcero]

How quaint a question -- How pre-9/11 in thinking -- to consider the Constitution!

The War with Terror is over. Terror won. We surrendered the day we traded safety for freedom.

What our brave soldiers would never allow -- would give life and limb to prevent -- their fraudulently elected "Commander in Chief" gave away gladly: The personal freedoms and good name of America.

Bush may as well have given Osama a ticker-tape victory parade -- only with shredded copies of the Bill of Rights.

[Tom K]

It is amazing how much this is like 1776. We even have a George the Second.

[KC CIcero]

In 1776, the people did not have the option of simply voting the tyrants out. We do. but we have to start at the bottom, vote out the panderers in the state legislatures who want to sell us fear in exchange for our rights. "Oh, look, we are going to protect you from dopers & sex offenders & gays & lions & tigers & bears."

How about a constitutional amendment limiting tha amount a Legislature can meet to two weeks a year, prohibiting the passage of any new criminal law without repealing one, and CUTTING law enforcement boondogle money -- like our DEA &the silly roadblocks!

Until then, we are our own wardens.

[Marvin]

Don't blame your government. Try holding a "wiretapping" conversation with the average citizen. Most people would probably subject themselves to anal probing at the airport if the government told them that not doing so would "only let the terrorists win."

Sadly, this law-breaking ends-justify-the-means government we have is actually fulfilling the will of the people.

[Lance Weber]

We are turning into a society where everyone is a suspect. Combine that fact with a sea of laws and regulations too numerous for the average person to keep track of and we have a recipe for arbitrary enforcement: tyranny.

[Sasquach]

The above comments don't even consider the increased waste that is bound to occur because of baseless investigations that will turn up nothing under this policy.

[Freeman]

come on give the "W" man a break...we give up our freedom...BUT he gave up his GOLF game did't he ?? Plus do you know how many attacks against the US were prevented due to all the new National Security laws that were passed since 911??...COUNTLESS ! MAYBE thousands of attacks or potential attacks per minute are prevented because you and I are willing to give up our little freedms.

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