Back                                                   FISA & the Protect America Act.

Is Big Brother watching you? I have no problem with eavesdropping on terrorists but I do have a big problem with eavesdropping on regular Americans. Now I agree that FISA is an important tool to fight terrorism and as long as it is used properly I have no problem with it, but how do we know it is being used the way it was designed to be used if there is no oversight of the people using it.

I have to question the reasoning of the people who want to give immunity to the telecommunications companies who went along with the administration. If they didn't  break any laws why do they need immunity, nor would they be responsible if they were assured by the government that they were within compliance with the laws. So who is the immunity really for?

The FISA court has, from what I can find, refused only a handful of requests for warrants in it's lifetime. You can go ahead with the surveillance right away and apply for the warrant within 72 hours. So why not use the law.

During the 60s the government used surveillance techniques to harass groups who were against the Vietnam War and even Martin Luther King.

It's the secrecy of the present administration that bothers me. Who is the immunity really for? I know I said that before but I would really like an answer. Is it for the companies or would the administration be in jeopardy from the information that would come out during a trial?

I hear how important the bill is and how not having it would put the country in such great danger but if that is really the case why did Bush promise to VITO an extension of it and why did the republicans vote straight party line to defeat the extension.

WHAT ARE THEY HIDING???