The Z Spot

Kind of along the lines of my post on citizens being deported, this post is about the balance of what I believe are our government’s two biggest responsibilities.

Our government, Constitution, and laws exist (or at least should exist) for two reasons. First, the Constitution is there to ensure that we can live our lives without excessive government encroachment on our rights. Second, the government ensures that our lives, liberty and rights are protected from others.

Recently, a 16 year old was taken from his home by local law enforcement agents and FBI officers using PATRIOT ACT charges. So far, no evidence has been made public that he was guilty of the alleged bomb threats. He had an alibi at the time the threats were made, and police did not find any bomb-making tools or ingredients in the home. Unless you count his video game console, which was taken in the raid.

As inhumane and elitist as this may sound, what really bothers me here is that he is a U.S. citizen.

With the foreign individuals held in Guantanamo and elsewhere without real evidence, we don’t have a responsibility to protect their lives. Their governments have that responsibility. With our citizens, and especially minors, who will protect their rights if our government doesn’t?

This happened under a Democratic president, which although at first seems odd, really makes sense. Put aside the issues of war and peace (since the parties change on those anyway… remember Vietnam?) and you’ll see that the fundamental difference between liberals and conservatives (notice I did not say Republicans) is that liberals see a much larger role in our lives as appropriate for the government. If they are going to overly tax us and redistribute our wealth; dictate the health care we use, etc. why shouldn’t they raid our homes and take our children in the middle of the night?

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