National Security and its Boundaries

So here we are at the quintessential question of our age? How far is too far when it comes to national security. As a people it seems that Americans are very reluctant to have any sort of government oversight over their lives. Understandable right? Well actually I think we need to check ourselves before we wreck ourselves. Many people oppose the patriot act because of some feeling of an invasion of their privacy. Do you really think the NSA is interested in your conversation with your girlfriend? They use a complex algorithm program that picks up certain key words and phrases connected to phone calls going to locations on a watch list (The Puzzle Palace). If you aren't doing anything wrong then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. We need to get our emotions in check.

Terrorists are using our self-righteous attitude towards our privacy to their advantage. They know we do not want to be filmed as we walk down the street or be scanned as we enter a shopping mall for explosives and weapons. I think we can all sacrifice a little to allow better surveillance in public areas and allow access to our phone and email records, therefore giving us more tools to prevent attacks.

That being said, there are certain boundaries. I think the personal sphere that exists in one's home is their own and should not be impeded unless actions are taken that indicate that person is up to no good. Also the government cannot hound people unnecessarily. The fact is there are already institutions in place that prevent undue government interference in this sector.

It's important to maintain our values and I think short of mandating that every citizen provide the government with extensive details of their activities for that month or something, the government won't be going to far to be more aggressive and intrusive. If you have nothing to hide you will be passed over. We need to avoid exaggerations of saying we are headed towards a police state and realize the challenges our government faces in protecting us. Bottom line: Let's stop being selfish and realize that the boundaries of national security will be reached if every individual becomes a suspect. Realistically this will not happen as it would be a waste of time for the federal agents that work these cases.