Question: What should Americans be most concerned about?
Nadine Strossen: I would say that you need to be concerned about violations of rights that you might think have nothing to do with you because they are only affecting those other people in particular, non-citizens, people who are accused of terrorism, people whose ideas you dislike, people you dislike and so you think what does it matter to me if their rights are being violated. What does it matter if government is invading privacy? Oh, I have nothing to hide. Why should I care? My message is you do care. I mean you must care. You have an absolutely profound stake in the government's power and abuse of power because once it can exercise that power against anyone, then no one is safe and I can give you so many examples of people including conservative Republican government officials who said why do we need a Bill of Rights? Why do we need the ACLU to enforce it? You are going to be accused of anything if you are not guilty. Your privacy isn't going to be invaded unless there is some reason to suspect you and then something happens in their lives and they do find themselves on the wrong side of the law unjustifiably. This happened with a couple of people for example in the Regan administration including his attorney general Ed Meese, who was being suspected or investigated for some kind of…I can't remember what it was…some kind of…I don’t even want to say it…but some kind of fraud I believe and he was ultimately never indicted, but he was suspected and suddenly sort of got the civil liberties religion and said when you are on the other side of the law, you suddenly do understand the importance of having these rights. So, I don’t want people to have to reach that point before they understand how essential it is that they never will be in that position.
Recorded On: 2/14/08
Discuss
Jen Something on March 18, 2008, 6:18 PM
How about the manipulation of the media in all forms…
Here is a youtube debate without Ron Paul
http://www.youtube.com/youchoose
This is fraudulent conveyance and an actionable deception. HE IS STILL RUNNING!~
Voter fraud www.blackboxvoting.org
Stock market fraud www.businessjive.com
Poison in our food….ASPARTAME FLUORIDE
Monsanto GMO!
IT IS CRAP!
Jen Something on March 18, 2008, 10:18 PM
How about the manipulation of the media in all forms…
Here is a youtube debate without Ron Paul
http://www.youtube.com/youchoose
This is fraudulent conveyance and an actionable deception. HE IS STILL RUNNING!~
Voter fraud www.blackboxvoting.org
Stock market fraud www.businessjive.com
Poison in our food….ASPARTAME FLUORIDE
Monsanto GMO!
IT IS CRAP!
Jamie Tyroler on March 22, 2008, 11:49 AM
I agree with Ms. Strossen, but would like to add that people who feel that they have nothing to hide should keep in mind what is acceptable today might not be acceptable tomorrow. For example, participating in a peaceful demonstration about the War in Iraq today might be used against you if you apply for a job with the Federal Government.
Think of the people who might have briefly identified as a Socialist or a Communist in the 1930's have that used against them in the 1940's or 1950's.
Jamie Tyroler on March 22, 2008, 3:49 PM
I agree with Ms. Strossen, but would like to add that people who feel that they have nothing to hide should keep in mind what is acceptable today might not be acceptable tomorrow. For example, participating in a peaceful demonstration about the War in Iraq today might be used against you if you apply for a job with the Federal Government.
Think of the people who might have briefly identified as a Socialist or a Communist in the 1930’s have that used against them in the 1940’s or 1950’s.
Ken Winker on July 1, 2008, 5:04 AM
Being new to the Big Think, I am just catching up with some of the thoughts and insights of interesting and informative people.
Ms. Strossen speaks so keenly and wisely on the need for all of us to be ever so vigilent of the absolute necessity to defend and respect the civil liberty/rights of all people, even those who intend to and may do us harm.
Even more so those who do us harm, as how we treat those persons is the reflection of our inner moral and value map which hopefully and will at the end of the day, rise to dominance and contribute to what makes us a more civilised society.
Finally, I just had the thought that it may be very difficult if not impossible to force other nations/states to fully accept and adhere to the same moral and value map that many of us adhere to. Which may partially explain why it is so wrong to continue down our current path in Iran.
Just a little thought.
Ken Winker, Tallahassee, FL
Ken Winker on July 1, 2008, 9:04 AM
Being new to the Big Think, I am just catching up with some of the thoughts and insights of interesting and informative people.
Ms. Strossen speaks so keenly and wisely on the need for all of us to be ever so vigilent of the absolute necessity to defend and respect the civil liberty/rights of all people, even those who intend to and may do us harm.
Even more so those who do us harm, as how we treat those persons is the reflection of our inner moral and value map which hopefully and will at the end of the day, rise to dominance and contribute to what makes us a more civilised society.
Finally, I just had the thought that it may be very difficult if not impossible to force other nations/states to fully accept and adhere to the same moral and value map that many of us adhere to. Which may partially explain why it is so wrong to continue down our current path in Iran.
Just a little thought.
Ken Winker, Tallahassee, FL
Big Thinker on July 1, 2008, 11:48 AM
We like your points, Ken, especially the recognition that the core beliefs of ACLU members (and others) hold little water in other places around the world. Our question for you – do we have any responsibility as a nation with a Bill of Rights, and its particular set of values, to try to change a place like Iran? (And we’re not talking about military action.)
Ken Winker on July 8, 2008, 11:19 AM
My inclination would be to allow any country the choice to select whatever list of rights for its people it so choses and under no circumstances impose our list of human/civil rights upon any country. Why should we have the audacity (of hope?) and the arrogant and ethnocentric attitude to impose our imperfect and evolving view of of what ought to be our list of civil and human rights upon another country?
Ken Winker
Tallahassee, FL
Ken Winker on July 8, 2008, 3:19 PM
My inclination would be to allow any country the choice to select whatever list of rights for its people it so choses and under no circumstances impose our list of human/civil rights upon any country. Why should we have the audacity (of hope?) and the arrogant and ethnocentric attitude to impose our imperfect and evolving view of of what ought to be our list of civil and human rights upon another country?
Ken Winker
Tallahassee, FL
Rachel Nichols on July 16, 2008, 2:46 PM
If you are not a citizen of the US then how can you have the right to acquire a drivers liscense, Adopt a US citizen or Marry a US citizen. Also receive government benefits which are funded by US citizens.
Rachel Nichols on July 16, 2008, 6:46 PM
If you are not a citizen of the US then how can you have the right to acquire a drivers liscense, Adopt a US citizen or Marry a US citizen. Also receive government benefits which are funded by US citizens.
JAY PEEK on October 13, 2008, 10:58 PM
Ms. Strossens deportment is that of desperation- she is desperate to uber advocate that the collective American conscience has slipped away. Slipped into a normative drone of convention. Each offsprings child following a demise of office holders from from Platos “Republic”. There are a handful of books out their on “Green” entrepeneurship. Find the good ones and MAke YoUr OWn jObs! It’s still a Democracy!
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