Monday, July 07, 2008

Urgent: Dialing for the Rule of Law

Tomorrow the US Senate will vote on H.R. 6304, a bill sent to them via a compliant Congress, eager to hand President Bush full discretion over our right to privacy and an open government process. Beyond setting a tragic precedent (sending "break the law now, we'll make it legal later" message to everyone, not just phone companies), the new bill would:
  • Grant complete retro-active immunity for phone companies who have broken the law in violating the privacy of law-abiding American citizens.

  • Allow the "bulk collection" of all international communications (even those calls not targeted for surveillance) in a "storage facility" system of questionable integrity against outside breach.

  • Strip court oversight over the use of illegally collected information.
In the interest of transparency and respect for the US Constitution, I'm urging Utah voters to pick up their phones and contact Senators Hatch and Bennett to tell them you oppose the protection of phone companies being placed before the protection of our most basic Constitutional rights.
Senator Hatch: (202) 224-5251

Senator Bennett: (202) 224-5444
Citizen patriotism can stop this abuse of power. Make some time, make some calls. Stand up for the Rule of Law.

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