Spring Break
The threat of a police state looms over us
Issue date: 2/7/08
The FBI is planning to announce the awarding of a $1 billion, 10-year contract in an increased effort to "protect the borders to keep the terrorists out, protect our citizens, our neighbors, our children so they can have good jobs, and have a safe country to live in," in the words of FBI Biometric Services Section Chief Kimberly Del Greco.
This seems to be a noble cause and something everyone can agree is important, but how exactly does the FBI plan on doing this? The FBI wants to create a database which compiles various types of biometric data, such as palm prints, eye scans, facial structures and even data regarding scars and tattoos.
And certainly this won't only be used to track terrorists and criminals, as many of the FBI background checks (which already compile some of this data) are for people who are involved in such things as teaching and elder care.
While one can make the argument that this does not necessarily mean the system will affect every American citizen, regardless of his or her activities or standing in the criminal justice system, one has to admit that the potential is certainly there.
In this day and age, when government is too vast and too many operations and actions are being undertaken in secret in the name of "national security," we must realize that this is potentially opening the door for a very Orwellian state and system in this country.
While it is probably impossible to find people who disagree with the notion that we need to implement new measures to combat and prevent terrorism and crime, it seems far-fetched to assume that these same people would agree with actions such as these, which have far greater impacts on society as a whole.
Certainly I'm not out committing atrocious crimes such as rape and murder, and would have no reason to be fearful of the government having my biometric data on file to link me to these crimes, but is it wrong to want, or even expect, some reasonable amount of privacy in my daily life?
This seems to be a noble cause and something everyone can agree is important, but how exactly does the FBI plan on doing this? The FBI wants to create a database which compiles various types of biometric data, such as palm prints, eye scans, facial structures and even data regarding scars and tattoos.
And certainly this won't only be used to track terrorists and criminals, as many of the FBI background checks (which already compile some of this data) are for people who are involved in such things as teaching and elder care.
While one can make the argument that this does not necessarily mean the system will affect every American citizen, regardless of his or her activities or standing in the criminal justice system, one has to admit that the potential is certainly there.
In this day and age, when government is too vast and too many operations and actions are being undertaken in secret in the name of "national security," we must realize that this is potentially opening the door for a very Orwellian state and system in this country.
While it is probably impossible to find people who disagree with the notion that we need to implement new measures to combat and prevent terrorism and crime, it seems far-fetched to assume that these same people would agree with actions such as these, which have far greater impacts on society as a whole.
Certainly I'm not out committing atrocious crimes such as rape and murder, and would have no reason to be fearful of the government having my biometric data on file to link me to these crimes, but is it wrong to want, or even expect, some reasonable amount of privacy in my daily life?
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
secondlaw
posted 2/08/08 @ 2:33 PM EST
I think asking the American public to pay for the violation of our 4th amendment rights is outrageous. Why is it that we have to proctect our civil rights from being abused by our own government? Right now the government is tracking us through our internet usage. (Continued…)
Lance Scour
posted 2/12/08 @ 12:36 AM EST
From Merriam Websters Dictionary
"Main Entry:
police state
Function:
noun
Date:
1851
: a political unit characterized by repressive governmental control of political, economic, and social life usually by an arbitrary exercise of power by police and especially secret police in place of regular operation of administrative and judicial organs of the government according to publicly known legal procedures"
Note when the phrase "police state" was created. (Continued…)
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