On the surface, my cert level and everything else is pretty much public knowledge. But I tend to agree with those that imply that this is a slippery slope.
Library records; Web Surfing Habits; individual pass times (to include diving); where I choose to travel for vacation are all being fed into databases maintained by the federal government. To be sure, this is all under the auspices of 'preventing terrorism' but it can easily be switched for other, less pressing reasons.
Today, no one agrees with J. Edgar Hoover's collection of 'dirt' on famous people or the McCarthy witch-hunts looking in to Communistic activities - but they did happen. What's to prevent the government from using information collected today against people tomorrow? I'm of the opinion that the less governmental oversight we allow, the better off we'll be.
I think true bravery would be to not to have changed anything after 9/11. Let people travel freely and openly throughout the United States without having to put up with the insane passenger checks at airports (I travel about 50,000 air miles a year on business). Our statement to the world will be simple; yes, you can kill us, but you can't change our way of life.
Of course, I totally support our actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, but we shouldn't change our way of life or else the terrorists have effectively won - they've changed us into a fearful quasi-police state - in other words, a reflection of themselves.
I know a lot of folks don't like the ACLU, but their entire premise is to defend the rights of everyone. Where they run afoul of popular opinion is when they defend a monster whose Constitutional Rights are being violated. The concept is that if the Constitution protects monsters, then it protects the rest of us as well. So yes, I do support the work of the ACLU - and I'm a Republican!
One of our greatest treasures is our ability to call anyone, from the President to your next door neighbor, a poor excuse for a human being (I'm leaving out the normal profanity here). This right isn't as common as you might believe and without aware citizens, we just might loose it under the banner of Counter-Terrorism.
Always remember, this is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. It may be hard to recognize at times, especially in light of the last presidential election, but I still believe it and if you don't like it, change it. Tip O'Neil once said, all politics is local. Get involved!
That's my two (maybe five) cents worth. Everyone has an opinion and I'll defend to the death (20+ year Air Force vet) your right to express it.
Lee
PS - the difference between a Subject and a Citizen? The Citizen has the right to bare arms.
