On 16 Jan 2003 at 12:09, Jon Gabriel wrote: > >From: Erik Reuter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Subject: Re: Desktop Icon Utility > >Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 08:00:28 -0500 > > > >On Thu, Jan 16, 2003 at 12:52:00AM -0500, Jon Gabriel wrote: > > > Despite the lure of positive thinking and pacifistic optimism, I > > > do believe that our government is going to have to maintain a > > > stronger vigilance and a more paranoid outlook. I'm sure as hell > > > not happy with some of the IMO rather drastic lengths I see this > > > administration going to, but they're not wrong to do try and > > > prevent another 9/11. > > > >Are they wrong to break the law of the U.S. Constitution to try to > >prevent another 9/11? > I am personally disturbed by the ample gray areas in constitutional > law that the Department of Defense and this administration are moving > into. There have been several decisions made and at least two > agencies established that, I believe, have the potential to violate > constitutional law. I feel very strongly that we need to establish > some sort of checks and balances to prevent that.
If you don't mind me saying...this is the weakness of a codified constitution, that people can more easily "work round the edges". Yes, Britain's uncodified constitution isn't black and white in the same way, but it lets judges have far more leyway to clamp down on the goverment and other organisations when they try to start working round civil liberties. And yes, the European courts and the Human Rights act prevent a lot of what's currently happening in America. You may see us as Big Brother, but we have more solid lines drawn in the sand than you over many issues. Ours may have started more to the left than yours, but they're deeper. Andy Andy Dawn Falcon _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
