What?!?!

Oh, brother!  Big Brother is here!

Back in 1982, when Mrs. Sorenson passed out those bulky books with the ominous title that read 1984, my first thought was, "Wow!  That's a big book!" 

My second thought was, "We get to read science fiction in high school English class?!  Cool!"

I remember wondering if George Orwell was right.  Would the world actually change so drastically by 1984?   It didn't.  But now 23 years later, Big Brother is watching (well, listening, actually) — legally. 

The New York Times reported this morning that President Bush signed into law a bill that was "rushed through" both houses of Congress.  The law "widens the legal reach for wiretapping" Americans who make international calls.

The Bushies stress that the subjects of the wiretapped conversations are the internationals, not the Americans calling them.  But let's be frank.  That's just word play.  Regardless of the NSA's focus, Americans' conversations will be tapped — without warrants.  

This is a violation of basic rights guaranteed by the U.S Constitution.  The 4th Amendment reads: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,
papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall
not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause,
supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place
to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

While phones didn't exist in 1776 and cell phones couldn't be imagined, the basic principal holds:  Warrants need to be issued and probable cause shown before Americans' right to privacy is violated.

How in the world did this pass through Congress?  And how did it slip under the radar of the media?  It's been weeks since I've heard any word on the wiretapping issue in the news?

Is it just me?  Or is Orwell's world of 1984 at hand?