Being Watched

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Being Watched What makes something so secret that it must be kept from the public eye? The National Security Agency or N.S.A. is a government run program that is tasked with global monitoring and analysis of information for foreign intelligence as well as counter intelligence purposes. President Obama’s opinion on the unlawful practice of mass surveillance is “I don’t welcome leaks. There’s a reason why there [are] programs [that] are classified”. Mr. Obama is the president and if there is a reason we shouldn’t know then that must be right; this has sadly become the thought process of most Americans. Ever since prohibition, Americans have been questioning the government and have always believed it should be the people watching the government and not the government watching the people. What citizens of the U.S. and of foreign countries are unaware of is that every phone call can be tapped, every text message read, every camera turned on remotely, and anything going through an internet provider monitored. The government has been able to achieve this by “sweeping authority under the Patriot Act to collect a record of every single phone call [as well as other communications] made by every single American” (ACLU). This very well may be the largest terrorist act and infringement of the constitution the world has seen. These terrorist acts come ironically from the country that has spent the most money on anti-terrorism, the United States. It’s a crime to open another person’s mail but it is perfectly fine if every email can be opened by government officials without the lawful request of a warrant. People who take notice of these facts are often scrutinized because they pay attention to the many publically exiled whistle blowers. Ever s... ... middle of paper ... ...ertaining mass surveillance of Americans be declassified and the money funding these operations be redirected to those in need. If Americans do not act now then a horrible police state will continue to enslave its citizens. The illusion of freedom has been uncovered and the true actions against the people’s natural rights revealed. One cannot stand up with his or her right on hand on their heart and say “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” honestly until this problem has been resolved. No great change has ever occurred instantly and it is understandable if a period of time passes before proper legislation is put into place preventing this but recognition of this problem needs to happen now. Every individual has the power to change, don’t let your freedoms be cowardly stripped from you, and remember the only tyrannical government is the one left un-reformed.

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