Our View: Oversight board needs implementation



The right to privacy is a fundamental necessity often overlooked and taken for granted by many Americans.

Due to this public apathy and a surge in nationalism, the current administration has been extremely lackadaisical in establishing the essential Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. It instead touts imposing legislation as civic-minded protection rather than blatant intrusions of privacy.

The board, suggested immediately after 9/11, was recommended by the bipartisan committee that researched the terrorist attacks. The necessary legislation to make the board possible was signed by President George W. Bush in December 2004, and now, five years after the board was first suggested, only minor progressive steps have been taken toward creating this salient panel.

Since 9/11 the Bush administration has been using uber-jingoistic rhetoric to persuade Americans they needn’t worry about the invasive legislation because it won’t affect them, it will only affect the terrorists. But these changes must affect some innocent Americans; otherwise the government wouldn’t need to impose them.

Aside from the few Americans who will be directly affected by the laws that are being actively pursued by the Bush administration, it is the idea the government may be entitled to private, personal information that is spooking some Americans. The belief that some things in one’s personal life are sacred and that the government has no entitlement to them is a common belief held by many citizens. Personal information and intimate conversations definitely qualify as sacred cows that should not be violated by the government in its pursuit of the “War on Terror.”

Catching potential threats to the American public is a primary concern for most citizens, but allowing the government unbridled access to personal information is almost as threatening to the American way of life as dangers beyond our borders.

Lollygagging from the Bush administration is no surprise. Aiding in the creation of this panel would severely hinder the administration’s ability to pass legislation in its favor. And, after all, the complaints that much of this terror-seeking legislation is too invasive have only amounted to a slight whimper from the public and private civil liberties groups, who are easily silenced by hyper-nationalistic speeches from members of the Bush administration.

The only way the current administration will give the essential breath of life to this fledgling board is if the public makes its concerns about civil liberties known. The establishment of this panel is paramount to ensuring the American way of life remains the carefree existence enjoyed by every citizen.

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