Sick of Apologia for Bush’s Attack on Civil Liberties
To the Editors of the Contra Costa Times
I am tired of apologists for the Bush Administration’s attack on civil liberties, the most recent of which appeared on the Contra Costa Times editorial page as a “Guest Commentary”: /CCTimes/, 1/27/05, A18, titled “Letters on Warrantless Searches on Mail Show Lack of Knowledge” by James Hauck of Brentwood. His use of propaganda and fuzzy thinking should not go unchallenged.
First, he is a computer illiterate when he states that “the United States does not employ vast numbers of people…to open every piece of mail.” James, they don’t have to: they have computers and barcodes on mail. They have “watch lists” that may or may not have anything to do with the reality of terrorist threats. All of the above can be corrupted by (1) incompetence of the investigators, and (2) political gain. All it takes is a change of party in Washington to change the hue of everyone designated a “suspect.” James, you need to consider the bigger picture. (Read on …)