Between this 👇🏻, the FISA, other metadata collection programs by govt, & other “legal” seizures, we need to completely rethink the law on warrants & privacy again. We’ve strayed too far from first principles. /1
The purpose of the Fourth Amendment is clear & stated in its language. We’re just willfully ignoring it now.
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated;”
/2
The fiction that you don’t have an expectation of privacy in your data held by companies you privately contract with is nonsense & should be called out as such.
We need strong leaders to stand up & say, “The era of spying on our citizens for govt convenience is over.”
/3
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America: Here is (part of) the sacrifice you made to preserve the Union & end slavery. This is the National cemetery in Petersburg, VA. Thousands of slain men, from across the nation, many buried as unknowns. Sons, husbands, brothers, fathers.
The cemetery was built in 1866. They found as many of the Union soldiers buried around Petersburg during the battles & reburied them here. Headstones have names, the numbered square stones are unknown Union soldiers.
The fallen came from all over our nation. PA, NY, NJ, Maine.
Lincoln had a clear vision of the nation that should guide us:
“I hold that in contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution the Union of these States is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments.”/1
“It is safe to assert that no government proper ever had a provision in its organic law for its own termination. Continue to execute all the express provisions of our National Constitution, and . . . “/2
the Union will endure forever, it being impossible to destroy it except by some action not provided for in the instrument itself.” /3
"I appeal to you again to constantly bear in mind that with you, and not with politicians, not with Presidents, not with office-seekers, but with you, is the question, "Shall the Union and shall the liberties of this country be preserved to the latest generation?"Abe Lincoln 1861
Notice that Lincoln emphasizes that this inquiry must be made repeatedly. He uses both the words "again" & "constantly" in his introductory phrase. It is not something done once and then set aside as completed.
The construction of his sentence is designed to put the focus on the hearer - the American people. He does this at least two ways. He uses the powerful "rule of 3" to emphasize it is not politicians, Presidents, or candidates who must decide this, but "you" meaning "us."
Absolutely. The right to travel is grounded in three constitutional foundations: a right inherent in the union, the privileges & immunities clause, & the 14th Amendment. /1
“The word "travel" is not found in the text of the Constitution. Yet the "constitutional right to travel from one State to another" is firmly embedded in our jurisprudence. United States v. Guest, 383 U. S. 745, 757 (1966). . . .” /2
“Indeed, as Justice Stewart reminded us in Shapiro v. Thompson, 394 U. S. 618 (1969), the right is so important that it is "assertable against private interference as well as governmental action . . . a virtually unconditional personal right, guaranteed by the Constitution. .”/3