It got me thinking though, what other rights are being trampled by our government. Let's look at the Bill of Rights. (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html) The preamble to the Bill of Rights states that it exists as a limit to government power, to prevent abuses. So let's see if government has been exceeding those limits, and we have been allowing abuses.
1. Google has been ordered to not report on what the NSA has been requesting from them, or about whom. (http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/06/18/google-nsa-fisa-petition/2435499/) Clear violation of the first amendment.
2. Anyone who has been awake the last 6 months knows they have been trying to violate the hell out of this. Also, since the limits on the federal government apply to the states, as per amendment 10, any state laws prohibiting access to firearms is a violation of this amendment, by extension.
3. Not quartering soldiers in homes yet, so OK here.
4. Unreasonable searches and seizures. Since random, or even 100 percent "traffic safety check points" have been ruled as unreasonable; why is this current NSA nonsense tolerated. This is violated so bad the NSA should be brought up on sexual assault charges.
5. Addresses due process. Funny thing, the NSA has been recording everything, then getting a warrant if it finds something. That is the opposite of due process. Like having the police search your home, then if they find something, getting a warrant. This also states that property may not be taken without just compensation. What is the value of intellectual property? Ever e-mail a story idea?
6. Speedy trial by jury of peers. So far this is mostly in tact.
7. Right to trail for civil suits. Ok.
8. Excessive fines, bail, cruel and unusual punishment not allowed. I'll give them this, only because that would be another whole post.
9. The presence of these rights being named, does not imply they are the only ones. Such as privacy, which I would say is also covered by the language in the 4th amendment. Violated here as well.
10. Powers not listed here, and NOT DENIED here, are for the states and the people. SO states can clearly not regulate the 2nd amendment either. Clearly violated.
So how did we score? 4 rights left intact. ONLY 4. U.S.A. you have failed a test that you wrote, and you know the answers to. Other countries are rioting over far less. We have a means of evicting bad government without violence. We can vote the rats out of the house. Unless they take that from us next. We have given lawyers their chance; instead of electing them, maybe we should start electing working stiffs. They certainly could not do a worse job.
NOTE TO THE NSA: Every one of you know what you are doing is wrong, even if, especially if, it is ordered by the President, and the whole of congress. We should not have to ask you to stop.
